TOKYO, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Xilinx, Inc., the global leader in programmable logic solutions, today announced that Sharp Corporation has adopted Xilinx CoolRunner(TM)-II CPLDs for its W-ZERO3 series of mobile information handsets. Xilinx CoolRunner-II devices act as the keyboard interface providing I/O expansion features, where it will help reduce the load on the handset microcontroller and enable the addition of more sophisticated features. Sharp selected Xilinx CoolRunner-II devices over competing devices based on their ability to perform high-performance functions in an ultra-small, low-power lead-free package.

TOKYO, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Xilinx, Inc., the global leader in programmable logic solutions, today announced that Sharp Corporation has adopted Xilinx CoolRunner(TM)-II CPLDs for its W-ZERO3 series of mobile information handsets. Sharp developed and manufactures the handsets for Wilcom, a leading Japanese cellular voice and data communications services provider. Xilinx CoolRunner-II devices act as the keyboard interface providing I/O expansion features, where it will help reduce the load on the handset microcontroller and enable the addition of more sophisticated features. Sharp selected Xilinx CoolRunner-II devices over competing devices based on their ability to perform high-performance functions in an ultra-small, low-power lead-free package.

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Xilinx CoolRunner-II devices are rapidly taking hold in handheld devices, especially in the consumer segment, thanks to their solid reputation in the industry as the leading low-cost, low-power CPLD. Xilinx annual CPLD sales have grown more than 65 percent over the past four calendar years, compared with overall market growth of just 9 percent (CY05 versus CY02), significantly contributing to the company's success and expanding growth in the consumer electronics market.

Launched in December 2005, Wilcom's W-ZERO3 series PC-plus-cell phone "all-in-one" handheld devices will provide Wilcom wireless services customers with exciting new features including voice, video, music downloads, Internet and email access. The W-ZERO3 series features a 3.7-inch VGA (640 x480 dot resolution) super-fine mobile ASV liquid-crystal display and integrated keyboard. They run on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Japanese OS and combine the mobility of a cell phone with the familiar ease-of-use of a PC. Communications features are underpinned by the W-SIM (Wilcom SIM) protocol for ultraclear phone calls and an IEEE802.11b-compliant wireless LAN interface. These features all combine to make the W-ZERO3 series one of the industry's leading new-generation mobile communications tools.

Flexible, Low Cost Solution for Fast Growing Smart Phone Market

New applications such as music downloads, web browsing, email and digital photography will drive the market for smart phones from 22 million in 2004 to 224 million in 2008, according to ABI Research. New smart phones present excellent high-margin opportunities to handset manufacturers. However, the speed of new feature evolution, the diversity of handset voltage, I/O and clock environments, and short product life cycles present a huge challenge with current design approaches and solutions.

"The pace of new feature requirements in the smart handset market is among the fastest in all of electronics, and market variations among regions, age groups and buying demographics compound the challenge. Product developers need the ultimate in flexibility to meet such dynamic targets, but can't afford compromises in design time, costs, power or size," said Alan Varghese, Principal Analyst, Wireless Research at ABI Research. "With the increasingly competitive price/performance points of PLDs, their flexible nature is making programmable solutions an attractive and viable choice for consumer applications."

About Xilinx

Xilinx, Inc. is the worldwide leader of programmable logic solutions. For more information, visit http://www.xilinx.com/.

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Xilinx, Inc.

CONTACT: Yumi Homura, Marketing, Xilinx, KK, +03-5321-7740, oryumi.homura@xilinx.com, or Tamara Snowden of Xilinx Worldwide PublicRelations, +1-408-879-6146, or tamara.snowden@xilinx.com

Web site: http://www.xilinx.com/