SAN DIEGO, February 6, 2001 – Insight Electronics and Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) today announced the VoIP (Voice over IP) hardware reference design that integrates the VoIP stack in a single low-cost FPGA. The VoIP reference design is a cost-effective solution for consumer-based high-volume VoIP products such as VoIP phone, Internet intercom, remote security monitor, Internet-based voice recorder and simple thin clients. Demonstrated at the Home Networking Industry Forum held last week at the Santa Clara Convention Center, the reference design is available exclusively from Insight Electronics.  

 Based on the low-cost Xilinx® Spartan®-II FPGA family, the reference design combines an Internet Protocol (IP) stack with VoIP application code, both of which were developed by the XCoNET (Xilinx Chips on Networks) team in the Xilinx advanced development department. The VoIP reference design is the first commercial deployment of this technology.  

“We offer a high performance, fully integrated solution, which demonstrates the viability of FPGAs as the thin client,” said Hamish Fallside, advanced development project lead for Xilinx.  “Coupled with the Spartan-II architecture, we are able to provide an extremely cost competitive solution one that can scale across the entire network.” 

The reference design contains two fully functional VoIP hardware boards that use IP-based voice streaming data to communicate. The VoIP application uses a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) core, a highly optimized implementation of the transport layer of the ISO reference model within the FPGA.  In addition, the reference design includes headsets, power supplies and access to the Insight Electronics Reference Design Center. Customer specific IP integration and application support is available through Insight Design Services. The UDP core can be purchased separately in netlist form and can be modified for specific customer needs through an agreement between Xilinx and MemecCore. 

“Insight and Xilinx developed the VoIP reference design as a demonstration vehicle for home networking and VoIP applications," said Tim Barber, marketing director at Insight. “Adding core customization capabilities through MemecCore and design integration assistance through Insight Design Services offers customers a time-to-market advantage.” 

The FPGA implementation of VoIP provides superior value and performance over the traditional employment of a microprocessor or DSP. It requires no external memory, exhibits no stack latency, and can operate at line speed. Insight Electronics plans to integrate the MemecCore DES core for encryption, thereby offering a private, secure link.  

“This VoIP hardware reference design demonstrates the viability and capability of Xilinx Spartan-II FPGAs in high-volume applications by providing a sub-$8 FPGA solution,” said Robert Bielby, director of strategic applications for Xilinx, Inc.  “VoIP is an important emerging market so Xilinx focuses on both the technology and solutions on our eSP website.”  

Additional information on VoIP technology and the reference design can be found on the Xilinx eSP web site at www.xilinx.com/esp. eSP is the industry’s first web portal and comprehensive resource to provide designers with everything they need to accelerate development of consumer products.  The site provides technology tutorials, system block diagrams, white papers, standard updates, industry links, extensive glossaries, and a directory of consultants.  Additionally, there is an on-line forum that provides designers with access to industry experts.

About Insight Electronics
Insight Electronics is the largest technical distributor of semiconductors in North and South America.  With 52 divisions in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and South America, and a focused line-card of 25 leading semiconductor companies, Insight’s sales team and field application engineers (FAEs) are as knowledgeable as its suppliers about the products, processes and technologies available.  The company’s value-added services, combined with its expertise in design, inventory management, logistics and use of e-business tools, ensure that customers receive the products they need, when and where they need them.

About Xilinx
Xilinx is the leading supplier of complete programmable logic solutions, including advanced integrated circuits, software design tools, predefined system functions delivered as cores, and unparalleled field engineering support. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Xilinx invented the field programmable gate array (FPGA) and fulfills more than half of the world demand for these devices today. Xilinx solutions enable customers to reduce significantly the time required to develop products for the computer, peripheral, telecommunications, networking, industrial control, instrumentation, aerospace, defense, and consumer markets. For more information, visit the Xilinx Web site at http://www.xilinx.com/.