SuperH, Inc. Launches Impressive IP Partner Program - Largest new program announced by microprocessor IP company

San Jose, California; Bristol, UK; and Tokyo, Japan, June 25, 2002, SuperH Inc., a leading independent global IP provider that develops and licenses 32-bit and 64-bit RISC microprocessor cores for the open market, has today announced the launch of an all-encompassing 'SuperH Partner Program', the largest new program of its kind ever to be announced. This news comes just nine months after SuperH, Inc. became a fully operational independent company. Designed to establish a world-class network of complementary products and services to support licensees of SuperH processors and their customers, the new partner program plays a critical role in minimizing 'time-to-volume'.

Through the 'SuperH Partner Program', encompassing 50 partners, a complete spectrum of support is available from silicon development through software applications and design services.

Licensees now have access to an extensive range of expertise in tools and complementary IP necessary for the integration of SuperH microprocessor cores into system-on-chip (SoC) products. This includes IP libraries, silicon design, modeling, verification, and testing. The SuperH microprocessor cores are delivered either in 'soft' or 'hard' IP format and are supported by Mentor Graphics and Verisity to provide support for industry standard design environments, with Hitachi, ST and UMC providing a choice of silicon manufacturers.

Partners within the program also provide a wide variety of skills to licensees in software and systems development. These cover software, hardware, and IP related to the development and debugging of software running on SuperH based SoC systems. Industry standard real time operating systems (RTOS) and kernels are covered by the partnerships with Accelerated Technologies, BSquare Corporation porting Windows CE to SuperH and Linux from MontaVista. Compilers and debuggers are provided by a range of companies including Green Hills Software, Inc., IAR Software, Radisys, and Hitachi. Development boards are available from Densan, Hitachi and KMC. With Lauterbach, Hitachi, Sophia Systems, and Yokogawa providing hardware emulators. Application software and middleware are available from companies such as Accelerated Technology Inc., GAO Research, Hitachi, ImageCom, NexGen Software, US Software, and Vivotek.

The partner program also gives direct access to SuperH design partners such as DNP, Imagination Technologies, NMI Electronics and MindTree Consulting, each of which are able to offer design consultancy and software development through to turnkey designs.

''With 50 partners, this program demonstrates the huge investment being made to give SuperH a market leader status in RISC licensing. We firmly believe that the SuperH Partner Program establishes SuperH as a natural choice for licensable micros'', said Rick Chapman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SuperH.

''Partner programs are essential in reducing 'time-to-volume' for our licensees'', added Jean-Marie Rolland, Chief Operating Officer of SuperH, ''They are critical to the success of any IP supplier, and we are proud to offer such an extensive program so soon after launching the company.

“The SH-4 has already proved to be exceptionally strong within the automotive and digital consumer sectors, and through the use of this program, customers will have the ability to develop SuperH based systems in a more cost effective manner. Additionally, the current and future licensees of the recently launched SH-5, which focuses on the digital consumer market, will benefit from knowledge sharing advantages, giving them the power to lead the way in the development of next generation products.”

For more detail on the Partner Program click www.superh-staff.com