Mentor Extends ReadyStart Embedded Software Platform to Texas Instruments' Stellaris ARM Cortex-M3 MCUs

WILSONVILLE, Ore., November 8 , 2010 - Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) today announced the Mentor® Embedded ReadyStart Platform support for the Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) Stellaris® ARM® CortexTM-M3 microcontrollers (MCUs). The recently announced ReadyStart Platform is a "ready-to-use" solution comprising integrated software IP, tools, and services targeting popular hardware boards and system-on-chips (SoCs). The Mentor Embedded ReadyStart Platform for the Stellaris ARM Cortex-M3 9000 series of MCUs will be demonstrated at the ARM TechCon in Santa Clara, California, November 10-11, 2010.

The ReadyStart Platform is ideal for small footprint, high-performance, and low-power applications, providing developers with ready-to-use demonstrations and configurations that shorten the time to develop medical, industrial, automotive, and consumer devices. The TI Stellaris 9000 Series MCU platform is ideal for single-board computing, communications and networking applications since the device supports low-power graphical user interface (GUI) and display capabilities. Coupling the Nucleus® ReadyStart product with the DK-LM3S9B96 development kit provides a tightly integrated board support package with a high level of connectivity support, resulting in cost-efficiencies for embedded developers. Together, the ReadyStart Platform with the Stellaris board support provides a highly scalable solution for effective product development, particularly applications that require displays and low power graphics with no hardware acceleration.

The ReadyStart Platform tightly integrates the Mentor Graphics® Nucleus Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) with the Inflexion PlatformT user interface (UI) runtime engine for 2D, 2.5D and 3D graphics and wired and wireless connectivity middleware. The ReadyStart Platform provides a single distribution to accelerate fast "bring-up" of a complete system, including a board support package (BSP) interface for TI's Stellaris  family of MCUs, and power management services to optimize low-power design.

 "Our mutual customers are seeking better methods to innovate in today's highly competitive market," said Jean Anne Booth, director, worldwide Stellaris marketing and customer-facing engineering TI. "The ReadyStart Platform provides Stellaris MCU customers with a rapid solution for device customization, which will drive innovation in applications such as handheld medical, in-home metering, industrial automation, POS terminals and human machine interfaces."

"Today's software developers are dealing with increasing design complexity, shorter time to market, and integration challenges for low-power, high-performance, multicore/multi-OS architectures, and market-specific functionality," said Shay Benchorin, director of marketing, Mentor Graphics Embedded Software Division. "Our ReadyStart Platform and our tight relationship with TI will enable our customers to meet these challenges and deliver a fast and efficient methodology to innovate with confidence."

Pricing and Availability

The ReadyStart Platform for the Nucleus product is listed at $24,995 and includes the Nucleus RTOS, wired and wireless connectivity middleware, and the Inflexion UI runtime engine for a single project with two developer seats. The EDGET Debugger tool and the Inflexion UI Express platform are provided for evaluation and available for purchase on a per-seat basis. A JTAG probe solution is also available. For more information on the ReadyStart Platform and TI's board support, visit http://www.mentor.com/go/readystart.

The Mentor Graphics Embedded Software Division comprises the Mentor Embedded family of products and services, including embedded software intellectual property (IP), tools, and consulting services to help embedded developers and silicon partners optimize their products for design and cost efficiency. More information on Mentor Embedded products and services can be found at the website: www.mentor.com/embedded.

ReadyStart Platform Featured at ARM TechCon 2010

The Mentor Embedded ReadyStart Platform supporting the Stellaris ARM Cortex-M3 MCUs will be demonstrated at the Mentor Graphics booth #409 at the ARM TechCon, Santa Clara, California on November 10-11, 2010. Visitors will be able to see how to quickly develop an embedded system using the ReadyStart solution for TI devices, including the new Inflexion Platform UI for Mentor's embedded 2D and 3D graphics and displays.

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $800 million. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.