Bangalore, India - Wipro Ltd., one of India's largest computer and software companies, is setting up a captive development center for Cypress Semiconductor Corp. that will service the nonsilicon design needs of Cypress, using Wipro's EagleWision design methodology.

The companies said the center will develop solutions for Cypress' data communications products, including network search engines and OC-48/STM-16 framers. Cypress (San Jose, Calif.) will use Wipro's engineering staff to define and develop evaluation boards, functional and device models, software, reference designs, documentation and chip set packaging. The center in Bangalore will build the infrastructure, communication systems and business processes for the partnership, and will also bring about significant cost savings for Cypress, the companies said.

Wipro's EagleWision methodology, honed by the experience of doing hundreds of designs for such global companies as Analog Devices Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc., was an important factor in Cypress' choice of Wipro. A hardware design methodology, EagleWision automates monitoring and error detection throughout the design cycle of ICs and printed-circuit boards.

"This partnership with Wipro will enable us to better serve our customers' whole-product requirements. Wipro's EagleWision design methodology, quality accreditation, technical capability and enthusiasm were all significant factors in our selection of Wipro as an engineering partner," said Christopher Norris, vice president of the data communications division of Cypress.

Wipro has the largest engineering staff of any Indian information technology company. "We believe we can help Cypress achieve the ambitious product goals they've set," said Ramesh Emani, chief executive of the embedded and access solutions division of Wipro Technologies, based here.

Cypress already operates a design center in Bangalore. Established in 1995, it employs more than 100 engineers and works on designs for data communications, memory, clocks and optoelectronics ICs. It is Cypress' largest development center in the world. Under investment plans announced last year, Cypress said it will spend $15 million on the center over the next two years. Products developed there have contributed more than $100 million to the company's global sales, Cypress said.

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