Product category: Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: Innovative Semiconductors | Subject: IP licensing
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 14 December 2006

Breakthrough pricing model
for mixed signal IP

Flexible model allows designers to evaluate IP cores prior to making a full licensing commitment

Innovative Semiconductors has announced a new pricing model that allows chip designers to test Innovative IP in their chip designs via an evaluation licence before committing to a full licence. The new pricing model is believed to be the first of its kind in the mixed signal design market, and underscores the company's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Under the new pricing model with evaluation licence, designers are given access to all components they would normally get for a full licence, with the exception of the layout GDSII file.

Designers can use these components in their design activities, including simulation models, timing views, place and route views, and documentation.

Purchase is only necessary for pre-tape-out verification, and to obtain the rights for tape-out and manufacture.

'It's always difficult for SoC designers to make a decision on IP purchases sight-unseen, and the consequences of a less-than-optimal decision can be costly and time-consuming', said Christian Heidarson, Gartner Sr Research Analyst for Semiconductor Intellectual Property and Design Services.

Such pricing models are common in digital logic applications, but until now this flexibility has not been available to designers using analogue or mixed-signal IP.

With a modest time investment in testing, designers can ultimately shorten their design cycles by ensuring product viability in advance of a full licence purchase.

'IP purchase can be very risky, and buyers often don't get what they thought they were buying'.

'With the new Innovative evaluation licence, designers get the complete IP package with the exception of the GDSII file, and that eliminates that huge risk', said Nabil Takla, President and CEO of Innovative Semiconductors.

'This 'try-before-you-buy' pricing model demonstrates our confidence in the quality and stability of our IP cores, and our commitment to minimising design risk for our customers'.

Basic IP pricing for the Innovative USB 2.0 high speed off-the-shelf PHY is US $100,000 for 0.18um and US $150,000 for 0.13um.

Support is charged as time and material pre- or post-sale.

Most designers will find that Innovative's widely used silicon-proven IP cores require little in the way of service and support.

However, designers requiring customised solutions can take advantage of Innovative's top-notch custom design services.

The design services team boasts an impressive track record and a roster of satisfied clients that include some of the most successful high-tech companies in the world.

In addition to this history, the design services team is on the leading edge of emerging technologies such as wireless USB (WUSB), for which Innovative has already developed an ambitious roadmap.

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