Cypress and Alcatel Team to Provide Gigabit Ethernet
Solutions
Agreement Enables Faster Development of Gigabit Ethernet Switches, Routers
and Semiconductor Prototypes
SAN JOSE & CALABASAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2001-- Cypress Semiconductor
and Alcatel today announced that Alcatel's Gigabit Ethernet Media Access Controller (MAC) soft
core will be available as an intellectual property (IP) core for Cypress's programmable logic devices
(CPLDs).
Cypress' Programmable Serial Interface(TM) (PSI(TM)) PHYs and Delta39K(TM) CPLDs are
designed for systems companies developing networking products. Alcatel's Gigabit Ethernet
MAC core, optimized for Cypress's programmable devices, will be made available through
Cypress's IP Oasis program. The program will simplify the design of Gigabit Ethernet solutions for
network routers and switches, enabling customers to take advantage of low-risk, proven
technology and shorten their product design cycles.
``The efficiency of the Alcatel Gigabit Ethernet MAC core gives system designers access to
additional programmable logic gates in the PSI and Delta39K devices,'' said Chris Norris, vice
president of Cypress's Data Communications Division. ``Combining the programmability of these
devices with Cypress's framers, network search engines (NSEs), network coprocessors, Datapath
Switching Elements(TM) (DSEs(TM)), and high-speed SERDES chips allows engineers to build
custom Gigabit Ethernet over SONET solutions for local- and metropolitan-area networks.''
``This collaboration expands our worldwide presence,'' said Alan Amrod, Alcatel's vice president of
Enterprise Marketing. ``Cypress's programmable communications chips, backed by a world-class
sales and engineering force, will enable our customers to design custom Gigabit Ethernet solutions
more rapidly.''
Alcatel is the market leader in 10/100 Mbps and Gigabit Ethernet media access controller
technology and a Principal Member of the 10-Gigabit Ethernet Alliance. The Alcatel Technology
Licensing Group's silicon-proven products are currently used in approximately 80 percent of the
10/100 Mbps ports and over 50 percent of the Gigabit Ethernet ports shipping worldwide.
Alcatel's Technology Licensing Group provides 10/100 Mbps, Gigabit, triple speed 10/100/1000
Mbps, and 10-Gigabit Ethernet MAC building blocks in the form of Verilog HDL code for
designers of networking ICs and system devices. Alcatel MAC cores have been licensed to
dozens of companies worldwide including Philips Semiconductor, Mitel Corporation, Nortel, NEC
Electronics, Broadcom, and Lucent. For additional information about Alcatel Technology
Licensing Group products and services, visit:
www2.ind.alcatel.com.
About IP Oasis
Cypress's IP Oasis program was designed to be the primary portal for data communications
solutions built with IP cores and Cypress programmable logic devices, such as the PSI family of
programmable PHYs and the Delta39K family of CPLDs. The IP cores are targeted at a variety of
applications, including backplanes, line cards, switches, routers, 3G base stations, VoIP gateways,
servers, mass storage equipment, interconnecting workstations, and video-transmission equipment.
The IP cores are available as netlists optimized for use with Cypress's Warp(TM) development
environment. IP Oasis, located at cypress.com, allows users to view and select prequalified intellectual
property cores and directs visitors to the IP vendor's sites for licenses and downloads.
Licensing and Availability
The Alcatel Gigabit Ethernet MAC IP core for Cypress PSI devices and Delta39K CPLDs will be available in January 2002. Netlist
licensing fees will start at $30,000.
About Cypress
Cypress Semiconductor (NYSE:CY - news) is ``Driving the Communications Revolution''(TM) by providing high-performance
integrated circuit solutions to fast-growing markets, including data communications, telecommunications, computation, consumer
products, and industrial control. With a focus on emerging communications applications, Cypress's product portfolios include
high-speed physical layer devices (PHYs), network search engines (NSEs), network coprocessors, datapath switching elements
(DSEs), networking-optimized and micropower static RAMs; high-bandwidth multi-port and FIFO memories; high-density
programmable logic devices; timing technology for PCs and other digital systems; and controllers for Universal Serial Bus (USB).
More than two-thirds of Cypress's sales come from fast-growing communications markets and dynamic companies such as Alcatel,
Cisco, Ericsson, Lucent, Motorola, and Nortel Networks. Cypress's ability to mix and match its broad portfolio of intellectual
property enables targeted, integrated solutions for high-speed systems that feed bandwidth-hungry Internet applications. Cypress
aims to become the preferred silicon supplier for Internet switching systems and for every Internet data stream to pass through at
least one Cypress IC.
Cypress employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide with international headquarters in San Jose, California. Its shares are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CY. More information about Cypress is accessible electronically on the
company's worldwide Web site at cypress.com.
About Alcatel
Alcatel (NYSE:ALA - news) builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking
solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With sales of $29 billion (EURO 31
billion) in 2000 and 110,000 employees, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the
Internet: alcatel.com.
``Safe Harbor'' Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements herein that are not historical facts
are ``forward-looking statements'' involving risks and uncertainties, including by not limited to: the effect of global economic
conditions, shifts in supply and demand, market acceptance, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product development,
commercialization and technological difficulties, and capacity and supply constraints. Please refer to Cypress's and Alcatel's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings for discussions of such risks.
Note to Editors: Programmable Serial Interface, PSI, Delta39K, Datapath Switching Element, DSE, Warp, and ``Driving the
Communications Revolution'' are trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor.
Contact:
Cypress Semiconductor
Louie Yan, 408/943-2817
LRY@cypress.com
or
Alcatel
Kristen Bailey, 818/878-4419
Kristen.Bailey@alcatel.com |
