Tensilica and Virtual IP Group Announce
MP3 Decoder for the Xtensa Processor
Solution Optimized for Low Power and
Memory Requirements of Consumer Devices
Santa Clara, CA, October 9,
2000 – Tensilica, Inc., a Santa
Clara-based provider of application-specific
processors and development tools for System-on-Chip
(SOC) designs and Virtual IP Group Inc., a design
foundry providing intellectual property (IP)
cores and design services to the embedded systems
market, announced today the availability of an
MP3 audio decoder for Tensilica’s Xtensa
configurable microprocessor architecture.
The decoder, compliant to ISO MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer
III, offers an optimized hardware and software
solution for creating SOC-based MP3 players.
The emergence of Internet-fueled MP3 digital audio
has ignited an explosion of product development
based on the new standard, and is revolutionizing
the distribution and playback of music content.
This has given rise to a new category of products
capable of playing MP3 encoded files providing
anytime, anywhere entertainment. Examples include
PDA’s, next generation set-top boxes, cell
phones and digital cameras that have common low
cost and power requirements. Virtual IP Group and
Tensilica have addressed these demands with an
MP3 package that provides hardware extensions and
optimized code that will accelerate the decoding
algorithm, resulting in an ideal solution for embedded
applications where power and memory efficiencies
are critical.
“MP3 playback is a key enabler for an ever
increasing number of consumer products,” stated
Bernie Rosenthal, Tensilica’s vice president
of marketing and business development. “With
very narrow market windows in consumer electronics
time to market is everything. The MP3 package we’ve
developed with Virtual IP Group ensures our customers
will be able to hit their targets with a low cost
and power solution.”
“Using the Xtensa platform and tools, we
have created an optimized MP3 decoder with a combination
of hardware extensions and software that results
in a very compact and power efficient solution,” said
Joseph Hong, Virtual IP Group’s vice president
of marketing. “With the convergence of demand
for configurable processors and MP3 playback we
see a bright future for both companies”
Availability and Pricing
The MP3 decoder object code is available now
for license from Virtual IP Group. License fees
start at $30,000 for a single instance use.
About Virtual IP Group, Inc.
Virtual IP Group was established in 1994. It
is a leading design foundry providing intellectual
property (IP) development, licensing and integration
services as well as front end and back end design
services. The company offers a comprehensive library
of silicon-proven, synthesizable, intellectual
property cores for implementation in FPGA, ASIC
and COT design platforms. In March 2000, ZiLOG
Inc. purchased a 20-percent equity stake in Virtual
IP Group and QualCore Logic Ltd., an affiliate
of Virtual IP Group located in Hyderabad, India.
For additional information, visit www.virtualipgroup.com
or call 408-733-3344.
About Tensilica
Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address
the fast-growing market for configurable microprocessor
cores and software development tools for high volume,
embedded systems. Using the company's proprietary
Xtensa Processor Generator, system-on-a-chip (SOC)
designers can develop a processor subsystem hardware
design and a complete software development tool
environment tailored to their specific requirements
in hours.
Tensilica's solutions provide a proven, easy-to-use,
methodology that enables designers to achieve optimum
application performance in minimum design time.
The Company is engaged in research, development,
and customer support from its offices in Santa
Clara, California, Waltham, Massachusetts, Princeton,
N.J., Houston, Texas, Oxford, U.K. and Yokohama,
Japan.
Tensilica is headquartered in Santa Clara, California
(95054) at 3255-6 Scott Boulevard, and can be reached
at (408) 986-8000 or via www.tensilica.com on the
World Wide Web.
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"Tensilica" is a registered
trademark and "Xtensa" and “Xtensions” are
trademarks belonging to Tensilica, Inc.
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