Basis Communications and Trillium Digital Systems, Inc. Form Strategic Alliance

Business Wire, March 1, 1999

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 1999--

Targeting Industry Demand for Integration of Communications

Protocols Into High Performance Silicon

Newcomer Basis Communications and Trillium Digital Systems, Inc. announce a strategic alliance, targeting industry demand for the integration of communications protocols into high performance silicon. The alliance will deliver Network Application Focused Integrated Solutions (NAFIS) by combining Trillium's industry-leading software with Basis Communications' high-performance RISC-based silicon.

The integration of Trillium's premier communications software into Basis Communications' RISC-based optimized system-on-a-chip semiconductor devices is a significant step toward achieving Basis Communications' goal of bringing new solutions to market for voice and data integrated next-generation WAN access.

Basis Communications and Trillium will explore next generation silicon architectures that deliver unique benefits to WAN equipment vendors for multi-service networking products. These benefits include the ability to minimize design time, increase performance, conserve available system real estate, reduce chip count, and reduce complexity of product architecture, thereby cutting both cost and time to market.

"We selected Trillium for its complementary technology and its broad range of premier source code software which it has licensed to more than 250 companies for use in more than 400 projects worldwide," said Michael Shealy, CEO of Basis Communications. "The integration of Trillium's software into Basis Communications' silicon supports our goal to deliver Network Application Focused Integrated Solutions (NAFIS). These solutions will more completely address the convergence of voice and data. Providing integrated systems building blocks in a singular design greatly enables equipment vendors to meet the market pressures and gain an important competitive edge."

"Trillium is excited about working with a forward-looking company, such as Basis Communications, to deliver high-performance integrated products. We are especially impressed with the competence of Basis Communications in this area, and the alliance will bring unique benefits to communications equipment manufacturers looking for high-quality solutions," said Jeff Lawrence, president and CEO of Trillium Digital Systems, Inc. "This alliance is an example of our Software on Silicon strategy, and we look forward to working with Basis Communications to deliver powerful next-generation silicon solutions."

In addition to their existing software licensing agreement, Basis and Trillium have agreed to conduct joint feasibility studies to define the financial, technical, support, and intellectual property details in connection with various projects for the strategic alliance. The first product resulting from the alliance will be announced in April 1999 for delivery to market by Basis Communications in July 1999.

About Trillium Digital Systems Inc

Trillium Digital Systems, Inc. is The World's Source for Communications Software(TM). Trillium develops, licenses and supports standards-based communications software solutions for SS7, ATM, H.323, V5, ISDN, Frame Relay, IP, X.25/X.75, fault-tolerance/high-availability and interworking technologies. Trillium also provides solutions for wireless, mobility, Software on Silicon(TM), Java and other emerging technologies. Trillium provides its products in the C programming language, along with documentation, training and support as standard deliverables.

Trillium was founded in 1988 and has provided leading-edge technology to the communications industry for over 11 years. Additional company and product information is available on the Web at http://www.trillium.com.

About Basis Communications

A provider of Multi-Service Networking Integrated Circuit solutions for the seamless integration of voice and data. Basis Communications was formed in early 1999 from the spin-off of its parent company Cirrus Logic, and is headquartered in the Silicon Valley. It maintains remote design centers in Clearwater, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts; and Pune, India.

Keywords: Alliance, Communications, Networking, Partnership, Silicon, Software, WAN.