PLD Applications and Rapid Bridge Systems Announce Partnership; Innovative ASIC platform for Nanometer Technologies Reduces Risk and Shortens Time to Market for PCI Express designs

--PLDApplications (PLDA) and Rapid Bridge today announced an agreement to pool PCI Express expertise to produce an innovative ASIC solution that responds to a wide range of challenges.

"The Rapid Bridge(TM) SoC solution shortens design, development, and production time, reduces risk, and decreases cost," explains Randy Wayland, Director of Marketing at Rapid Bridge. "By integrating PLDA's IP controller, we can offer a tested comprehensive platform whose elements have already proven interoperable in simulation environments and silicon."

The Rapid Bridge SoC solution is highly flexible, addressing a wide range of market segments, including communications, consumer, and networking environments. It can also be used to quickly create derivative products from a basic line, greatly improving the efficiency of manufacturing.

"Rapid Bridge is an industry-leading and innovative company that offers a unique solution in the ASIC market," explains Arnaud Schleich, co-founder and vice president of PLDA. "Our collaboration will allow our common customers to ultimately develop their own Customer Owned Tooling (COT) devices."

The market-proven PCI-SIG compliant PCIe XpressRich IP offers a high-performance architecture in a highly configurable RTL-level function. Available as an Endpoint, Root Port, Switch, or Bridge, the XpressRich IP is a secure and proven solution verified with multiple Verification IP vendors and interoperable with all of the main PHY IP vendors.

"PLDA is the largest provider of IP cores for the logical and transport layers of PCI, PCI-X and PCI Express," according to A Guide to High-Speed Interconnects, published by The Linley Group, Inc. (C)2006. Since 2004, PLDA has listed its PCI Express IP core on the PCI-SIG integrators list, and today has sold over 200 PCI Express licenses and is silicon proven with 90, 130, & 180 nm.

About PLDA

PLDA designs and sells a wide range of ASIC and FPGA interfacing solutions for the PCI Express, PCI-X, PCI and derivative protocols. The company offers complete solutions, including IP cores, hardware, software, consulting services, and comprehensive technical support provided directly by the IP designers. The company maintains offices in California and France, and has a strong international Distributor's network. For additional information about PLD Applications, please visit http://www.plda.com.

About Rapid Bridge

Rapid Bridge provides low cost quick turn prototype ASICs with multiple migration options for volume production. Rapid Bridge customers have the choice to migrate prototype ASICs to fabless COT volume manufacturing by retaining IC design ownership or to opt for turn key ASIC volume. Rapid Bridge technology features proprietary DFM techniques to improve yield, accelerate market introduction, reduce risks and cost without sacrificing power, performance or area. For more information on Rapid Bridge, please visit www.rapid-bridge.com.