Actel Announces SoftConsole Version 2.2 -- Free Embedded Software Development Environment

Next-Generation Software Supports Programming/Debug of Actel IP Processors

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- March 16, 2009 — Actel Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTL) today announced the availability of SoftConsole version 2.2, the next-generation free development environment for embedded design. This new version includes enhanced capabilities for debug and the downloading of programs, including a new flash loader, and support for the Microsoft® Vista operating system. Leveraging Actel's IGLOO® low-power FPGAs and Actel Fusion® mixed-signal FPGAs, SoftConsole is a single programming environment that enables software engineers to write and debug C and C++ programs targeted at Actel's portfolio of embedded processors, including ARM® Cortex™-M1 and Core8051s.

"System designers using the new SoftConsole version 2.2 with our embedded processor cores will directly benefit from improved usability and faster time-to-market," said Tom Moore, Actel's director of IP engineering. "Actel is the only FPGA provider to offer the ARM Cortex-M1 embedded processor free of licensing and royalties."

SoftConsole version 2.2 is based on familiar and widely used open-source tools, including the CodeSourcery™ ARM7™ and Cortex-M1 GNU C Compilers (GCC) and GNU Debugger (GDB), Eclipse IDE, and 8051 Small Device C Compiler (SDCC). This complete, comprehensive, and free development environment works seamlessly with Actel's Libero® Integrated Design Environment, development kits, and FlashPro3 programmer.

Pricing and Availability

SoftConsole is available for free via download from Actel's website at http://www.actel.com/products/software/softconsole/.

About Actel

Actel is the leader in low-power FPGAs and mixed-signal FPGAs, offering the most comprehensive portfolio of system and power management solutions. Power Matters. Learn more at www.actel.com.