( DAC 00 Item 31 ) --------------------------------------------- [ 7/13/00 ]

Subject: Huh? -- Avanti & Synopsys Together On 'DesignSphere'?

STRANGE HAPPENINGS:  It was a complete surpise to see Avanti team up with
Synopsys on the DesignSphere web site.  It's not like Gerry to play nice
with the other children like this.  Usually his business philosphy is more
like the A-Flaming-Death-To-All-Our-Rivals type than the Let's-Joyously
-Work-Together type.  Maybe he took some happy pills that day or something?

   "* Biggest shock: Avanti and Synopsys co-operating on DesignSphere."

        - an anon engineer


   "DesignSphere - a joint venture between Synopsys and Avanti to distribute
    tools over the Internet and setup entire design CAD tools and flows."

        - an anon engineer


   "DesignSphere by Synopsys - a partnership with Synopsys and other tool
    vendors, initially Avanti, to be able to lease hosted tools on a project
    basis.  They supply the tools and computers and infrastructure support
    on their site and you access over the internet.  Tools can be had with
    6 months licenses (maybe 3 months, too) at the normal price.  Hosted
    system are typically Sun Model 80 with 4 processors, 5GB RAM and 80GB
    disk, suitable for 4 designers to work concurrently, and additionally
    cost $200K/year.  Pricing is preliminary."

        - an anon engineer