Actel Partners with VeriBest, Synplicity

Programmable logic device (PLD) supplier Actel Corp. has partnered with Synplicity and VeriBest to deliver a free integrated suite of design tools.

The DeskTOP tools integrate the functionality of VeriBest's DesignView Design Manager, schematic entry, and VHDL simulator; Synplicity's Synplify synthesis software; and Actel's Designer place and route tools as well as programming, logic analyzer, and timing analysis software.

The basic DeskTOP suite of tools supports more than 209 Actel device types. It will be offered free of charge to qualified designers through January 31, 2000. One year of DeskTOP maintenance, which includes full technical support and upgrades for future Actel devices, is $995.

The current DeskTOP suite is the first phase in a three-tiered product offering that will roll out in 1999. In the second phase, which is slated to rollout in the second quarter of 1999, Actel will introduce DeskTOP Pro and DeskTOP Open.

DeskTOP Pro will help designers achieve maximum performance with VeriBest, Synplicity, and Actel's software tools. DeskTOP Open, on the other hand, delivers an open synthesis environment to customers who have already invested in their own synthesis tools.