CoWare Joins UWB Forum and Announces Addition of DS-UWB Library to SPW Dual UWB Library Support Aids Designing for the Common Signaling Mode Proposal

SAN JOSE, Calif. May 10, 2004 * * * CoWare Inc., the leading supplier of system-level electronic design automation (EDA) software and services, announced the addition of direct sequence ultra wideband (DS-UWB) technology to its SPW wireless LAN library. In addition, CoWare announced it has joined the UWB Forum (www.UWBForum.org), the industry organization backing DS-UWB technology, with the goal of bringing commercial UWB solutions to market this year. The availability of CoWare's UWB libraries provides the EDA support necessary to help consumer electronics designers achieve this goal.

To encourage UWB technology development, CoWare previously announced library support for the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) proposal from the Multiband-OFDM Alliance (MBOA). With this announcement, CoWare becomes the first in the industry to announce development support for both technology proposals being considered for the emerging IEEE UWB standard, and the only vendor capable of supporting the compromise proposal before the IEEE. The compromise proposal, which includes a Common Signaling Mode, would allow both types of UWB technologies to be supported in the IEEE 802.15.3a standard, enabling broad adoption of UWB and providing flexibility for designers.

The availability of the UWB libraries for SPW offers designers comprehensive options when designing UWB-based products, and also offers IEEE committee members a realizable path for a working compromise. "CoWare is the leading company to offer technology for quickly analyzing interoperability and functionality of different UWB systems, enabling designers to choose the UWB technology that is best for their application," said Dr. Kohno, director of the UWB Technology Institute at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (www.nict.go.jp), Tokyo.

"CoWare brings a key element to the design of UWB-enabled systems - library support in a validated design environment," said Martin Rofheart, director of UWB operations for Freescale Semiconductor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Motorola Inc. "That's why we're excited to have CoWare in the UWB Forum. Using CoWare's transparent source code libraries and simulation technology, companies can begin designing with UWB products today."

"UWB has generated considerable interest in the design community because of its potential in terms of throughput, low power and low cost, and we are committed to helping our customers design products for it," said Dr. Johannes Stahl, director of marketing for CoWare's SPW product line. "According to a report from ABI Research, total global shipments for UWB-enabled electronics and chipsets could reach 45.1 million units by 2007, with resulting revenues of $1.39 billion by the end of that year. We appreciate the opportunity to support the UWB Forum members and believe our SPW offering will help further the rapid deployment of UWB worldwide."

SPW Libraries Speed UWB Design

CoWare SPW is a complete platform for design and verification of DSP algorithms. Its up-to-date communications and multimedia source code libraries are transparently accessible, providing unmatched value for standards explanation and design. The WLAN library includes executable end-to-end system models of WLAN standards including WiFi compliance. Using the library, system engineers can rapidly create an accurate model of the system, incorporate their differentiating pieces, and then simulate the system under different scenarios to optimize the system architecture. Leveraging SPW's high simulation speed, users can now explore many system options, including both the DS-UWB and MBOA approaches. And with source code delivery, designers can use the library as a starting point for detailed fixed-point design. Because the SPW WLAN library was developed from active participation in the standardization process, second-guessing of written standards proposals is eliminated

Pricing and Availability

The next release of the CoWare WLAN library with support for DS-UWB technology is available for evaluation immediately. It is available to SPW WLAN licensees as part of their maintenance update. For pricing information, contact your local sales office. For more information, visit www.coware.com.

About the UWB Forum

Formed in 2004, the UWB Forum is comprised of members committed to making the UWB "future" now. These members, operating through the UWB Forum, support a UWB standard that is based on a DS-UWB approach in the marketplace and developing processes for ensuring UWB products from multiple vendors are fully interoperable, such as jointly developed standards and multi-vendor testing mechanisms.

About CoWare

CoWare is the leading supplier of system-level electronic design automation (EDA) software tools and services. CoWare offers a comprehensive set of electronic system-level (ESL) tools that enable SoC developers to "differentiate by design" through the creation of system-IP including embedded processors, on-chip buses, and DSP algorithms; the architecture of optimized SoC platforms; and hardware/software co-design. The company's solutions are based on open industry standards including SystemC. CoWare's customers are major systems, semiconductor, and IP companies in the market where consumer electronics, computing, and communications converge. CoWare is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and has offices around the world. For more information about CoWare and its products and services, visit http://www.coware.com.

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