Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/12613-agilent-technologies-completes-acquisition-of-xpedion-design-systems-a-leading-provider-of-rfic-simulation-and-verification-software

Agilent Technologies Completes Acquisition of Xpedion Design Systems, a Leading Provider of RFIC Simulation and Verification Software

August 28, 2006
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 28, 2006 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Xpedion Design Systems, a privately held company that provides software for wireless and high-speed digital circuit and systems design in the communications industry. Financial details were not disclosed. Xpedion's and Agilent's combined technologies are used by virtually all key companies designing RFICs. Agilent is recognized as the leader in RF design and simulation, with proven breadth and depth. By adding Xpedion's products to its portfolio, Agilent will increase its emphasis on design verification and Design for Manufacturing (DFM), giving customers an indispensable design flow covering RFIC design, design verification and DFM. "With Xpedion's employees now part of Agilent, our combined organization will continue to listen to customer needs and drive innovation to address the challenges in the ever more complex RFIC market," said Jim McGillivary, vice president and general manager of Agilent's EEsof EDA division. "Increasingly, analog IC designers are struggling to accurately characterize their designs prior to tape out," said Paul Pickering, GoldenGate marketing manager at Agilent. "Xpedion's technology will enable Agilent to expand the solutions for verification analysis and address many of the deficiencies experienced when designers depend solely on time domain analysis. More simply put, we deliver the valuable simulation that is critical to getting high-frequency chips to market." GoldenGate is Xpedion's flagship product, which enables RFIC designers to analyze their designs at the transistor level faster and more accurately. The GoldenGate R&D team is continuing work in the next release of the product, which is on schedule for early calendar 2007. "Our first priority is to make this transition as seamless as possible for Xpedion's customers," said Neil Martin, marketing manager for Agilent's EEsof Division.