Tensilica's Xtensa Processor Powers New Revolutionary Communications IC From Crimson Microsystems

--Tensilica Inc. today announced that Crimson Microsystems, an early stage start-up with revolutionary new communications silicon technology, has licensed Tensilica's Xtensa microprocessor technology. Crimson will integrate the Xtensa core into a new communications IC for the optical transport, switching and access markets.

Crimson is developing a new class of silicon systems called "Microcommunications Processors." Microcommunications Processors are based on a new architecture that blends the essential building blocks for high efficiency transport, aggregation and grooming (TAG) with a central processing core. This architecture results in a single-chip processor that radically improves efficiency, lowers cost and addresses security in both copper- and fiber-media networks.

"As a start-up in stealth mode, we knew we needed a robust, pre-verified core that would help us get to market quickly with a highly differentiated product," said Deepak Rana, CEO of Crimson Microsystems. "The Xtensa platform reduced our development time significantly, and provided flexibility down the line for further customization. This gives us immeasurable peace of mind, knowing that our technology will be highly competitive today, and our development effort can be leveraged as we proceed down our Microcommunications Processor roadmap."

"Tensilica gives designers a methodology for the rapid and cost-effective deployment of highly integrated customized SOCs," said Bernie Rosenthal, Tensilica's senior vice president of marketing and sales. "We've seen growing momentum across many application segments including communications, because we provide a comprehensive approach that addresses the cost and time-to-market challenges associated with deep sub-micron design, and protects our customer's need to deliver industry-leading performance and features to the industry."

Tensilica is the first and only company to offer an integrated, patented hardware and software design environment that enables the automatic generation of application-specific processors. Tensilica's patented Xtensa design environment has been used by over 60 leading semiconductor and system companies to deliver integrated SOCs for a variety of embedded applications. The Xtensa microprocessor core is shipping today in products ranging from low-cost consumer devices to high-performance communications equipment.

About Tensilica

Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address the growing need for optimized, application-specific microprocessor solutions in high-volume embedded applications. With a configurable and extensible microprocessor core called Xtensa, Tensilica is the only company that has automated and patented the time-consuming process of generating a customized microprocessor core along with a complete software development tool environment, producing new configurations in a matter of hours. For more information, visit www.tensilica.com.

About Crimson

Crimson Microsystems is the leading developer of microcommunications processing technology and solutions that enable the most cost-effective and bandwidth-efficient multi-service applications in data and telecommunications systems. It is a privately held fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif. For more information, see www.crimsonmicrosystems.com.

Editors' Notes:

• "Tensilica" and "Xtensa" are registered trademarks belonging to Tensilica Inc.
• Tensilica's announced licensees are Agilent, Astute Networks, Avision, Bay Microsystems, Berkeley Wireless Research Center, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Conexant Systems, Cypress, Crimson Microsystems, ETRI, FUJIFILM Microdevices, Fujitsu Ltd., Hudson Soft, Hughes Network Systems, IC4IC, Ikanos Communications, JNI Corporation, Marvell, Mindspeed Technologies, National Semiconductor, NEC Laboratories America, NEC Corporation, Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT), Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., ONEX Communications, OptiX Networks, Osaka & Kyoto Universities, S2io, Solid State Systems, Sony, STMicroelectronics, TranSwitch Corporation, Trebia Networks, Victor Company of Japan (JVC) and ZiLOG.
• Crimson Microsystems and TAG are intellectual property of Crimson Microsystems, Inc. All other names are the Intellectual Property of their respective companies.