DesignAdvance Announces the Launch of CircuitSpace, a New PCB Design Software Tool Capable of Shaving PCB Design Time up to 50%

Business Wire, Jan 31, 2005

PITTSBURGH -- DesignAdvance Announces Technology Alpha Partners Compunetix, EMA Design Automation, Laurel Networks and Marconi

DesignAdvance(TM) Systems, Inc., computer aided design (CAD) and electronic design automation (EDA) design-synthesis software developer formerly known as Desantage(TM) Corporation, today announced the formation of the Alpha test program and the launch of its first product, CircuitSpace(TM) at the upcoming PCB Design Conference West March 7, 2005.

DesignAdvance announced four members to its Alpha partnership program: Compunetix, Inc., EMA Design Automation, Inc., Laurel Networks, Inc., and Marconi Corporation plc.

"We are pleased to be a key alpha site for CircuitSpace. Marconi recognizes that software shortening the design cycle enables us to deliver new products and technologies to our customers sooner. Partnering with DesignAdvance's development team gives us early input and access to new, exciting technology," said Joe DeAngelis, Computer Aided Design Manager at Marconi.

CircuitSpace brings user-assisted automation to the current manual process of component placement reducing design time and pushing products to market sooner at reduced costs. DesignAdvance has exclusively licensed two patented platform technologies, including five patents, developed over the past 11 years at Carnegie Mellon University.

"Our launch includes a new corporate identity more focused on what we deliver - DesignAdvance Systems - to the public but our software, CircuitSpace, is based on over a decade of dedicated research and development. Our solid, unique technology is what attracts partners to join our alpha program," said Randy Eager, CEO and Co-Founder at DesignAdvance.

CircuitSpace provides user-assisted automated component placement solutions. Current tools can only create initial configurations that require extensive manual effort for completion. With CircuitSpace, the designers specify and/or import relevant constraints, DRCs, and ERCs. Sophisticated algorithms then process the data, creating and solving an optimization problem whose result is a board with components placed according to the design constraints, faster time-to-market and reduced costs.

About Compunetix, Inc.

Compunetix is the leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art multimedia multipoint telecommunications systems for audio-conferencing, video-conferencing, and mission-critical applications. Compunetix has offices in United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and India servicing about 250,000 ports installed in more than 25 countries. Compunetix has the industry's largest worldwide deployment of digital multimedia conferencing systems. Dedicated to customer-focused and innovative technology, Compunetix engineers and manufactures all aspects of its conferencing equipment, ensuring its customers that their bridges are the highest quality, most reliable and most flexible solutions available. For more information visit www.compunetix.com.

About EMA Design Automation, Inc.

EMA Design Automation, Inc. is a full-service EDA Solutions Provider offering software tools, design services, product training, and technical support for the entire PCB design process. Founded in 1989 and a Cadence Design Systems, Inc. distributor since 1998, EMA is staffed with experienced engineers and offers EDA design solutions tailored to the needs of each individual customer. EMA is a privately held corporation headquartered in Rochester, New York. Visit EMA at www.ema-eda.com for more information.

About Laurel Networks, Inc.

Laurel Networks is a leading provider of service edge router solutions to Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), Interexchange Carriers (IXCs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Postal, Telephone and Telegraph agencies (PTTs), Multiple System Operators (MSOs), and wireless providers. Laurel's service edge routers and service management solutions are deployed by the world's largest service providers in the US, Europe and Asia, including Level 3 Communications, KT and Dacom and Arsys Internet SL. The company's products combine Internet class routing, Layer 2 switching and broadband subscriber management with the sophisticated QoS, high availability and integrated management needed to deliver advanced services with non-stop performance. Laurel's routers cost-effectively deliver next-generation high-growth business and consumer services including value-added Internet, VPNs, switched services, voice-over-IP, video-on-demand and advanced broadband. For more information, visit www.laurelnetworks.com.

About Marconi Corporation plc

Marconi Corporation plc is a global telecommunications equipment, services and solutions company. The company's core business is the provision of innovative and reliable optical networks, broadband routing and switching and broadband access technologies and services. The company's customer base includes many of the world's largest telecommunications operators. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol MONI and on NASDAQ under the ticker MRCIY.