Altium and Bosch extend CAN licensing to FPGAs

Agreement provides framework for broader implementation of CAN standard

SYDNEY, Australia - March 17, 2004 - Altium Limited (ASX: ALU), a leading developer of Windows-based electronics design software, today announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with automotive electronics supplier, Robert Bosch GmbH, which will allow Altium to sub-license Bosch's CAN (Controller Area Network) protocol for FPGA-based applications. This agreement will support users of Altium's new Nexar design system who wish to implement the CAN protocol in commercial applications.

Currently, CAN licensing is only available for high-volume ASIC implementations but this new option will provide a scalable model that extends CAN licensing into new vertical market applications.

"The CAN standard is a well-known, trusted and versatile protocol that provides an efficient, highly reliable networking option for designers. The FPGA segment is rapidly expanding and we believe that Bosch and Altium share a vested interest in supporting a volume of smaller-scale CAN implementations," says Nick Martin, Joint CEO and Founder, Altium. "Our Nexar product makes embedded system design on an FPGA platform accessible to mainstream engineers and support for important industry standard protocols like CAN is an essential part of this process. With a flexible approach to licensing we can remove a significant obstacle to wider CAN adoption."

Nexar is shipped with a ready-to-use, pre-synthesized CAN controller core that can be directly implemented in a system design on an FPGA using Nexar. Under the agreement, customers can purchase CAN licenses directly from Altium in 1000 unit blocks for a cost of Euro 500 per block.

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About Altium Limited
Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) is a global developer and supplier of electronics design software for the Microsoft Windows environment. Founded in 1985, Altium released the world's first Microsoft Windows-based printed circuit board design tool in 1991 and continues to provide advanced, easy-to-use and affordable software design tools to electronics engineers, designers, and developers worldwide. Altium's products offer tailored solutions covering a range of hardware and software design processes including the well-known Protel, P-CAD and TASKING brands. Altium is headquartered in Sydney, Australia and has sales and support offices in Australia, the United States, Japan and Europe. More information is available at www.altium.com.

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