SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Tensilica(R) Inc., the configurable and extensible microprocessor pioneer, announced today that OptiX Networks, a privately-held, Israel-US company specializing in the design, development and marketing of VLSI solutions for the broadband optical backbone market has licensed the company's Xtensa(R) technology. OptiX Networks will employ Tensilica processor cores in VLSI chipsets targeted at Broadband Optical Backbone, Interoffice and Metro Area Communications applications.

OptiX Networks director of engineering, Aryeh Lezerovitz, said, "We have evaluated a number of approaches to fulfilling the processor requirements of our chipset, and have selected Xtensa due to its intrinsic functionality and compatibility. Our SOCs will offer many differentiated and proprietary features, and for this reason, we needed a flexible, tailorable and proven processor solution. Xtensa provides an excellent fit for our requirements."

Bernie Rosenthal, Tensilica's senior vice president of marketing and business development, commented "This design win is a poster example for Xtensa technology's broad applicability across a range of SOC applications. We are indeed pleased to be selected by OptiX Networks for their transport and optical switching chipset, and we look forward to watching their success in the market place."

Optix Networks Tensilica Inc.