UMC Adopts Oridus' MebesCruiser For Interactive, Online Review Of Integated Circuit Mask Data

MebesCruiser Offers Foundry's Customers a Virtual Location to View a MEBES Database

FREMONT, Calif., December 2, 2002- Oridus, Inc., provider of powerful, secure enterprise collaboration software solutions, and UMC (NYSE: UMC), a world-leading foundry, announced today that UMC has expanded its online customer-oriented services with Oridus' Web-based mask data MEBES (Manufacturing Electronic Beam Exposure System 2) reader tool, MebesCruiser. Now, UMC customers can independently view and browse their MEBES database of an integrated circuit (IC), or join teams of engineers for collaboration via Web conferencing in a highly secure, online mask data environment. Oridus' technology virtually eliminates the costly travel and time barriers associated with traditional IC manufacturing.

"As part of our continued commitment to enhance our online services, we added MebesCruiser to our online mask data review solutions as it offers extensive capabilities and ease-of-use for our customers," said Fu Tai Liou, chief officer of worldwide sales and marketing for UMC. "Now, our customers can use their standard Web browser to validate mask data online without installing any additional software, or adjusting their network settings. Initial feedback reveals our U.S.-based customers are extremely pleased with this new online service, and the ease and speed it provides for reviewing MEBES data."

In just seconds, MebesCruiser, when integrated into UMC's Web environment, displays a multi-gigabyte mask file onto desktop PCs or workstations running Windows, UNIX, or Linux operating systems. MebesCruiser supports data intensive, media-rich information. It allows designers to load multiple JobDeck or MEBES files simultaneously and enables changes in the viewing patterns, i.e., color, scale offset, on the fly. All of this can be done independently, or in conference mode. The conference mode feature allows whole teams to participate and discuss the location, shape and overlays of a design in great detail and record data for later reference. Users can "virtually verify" and sign off on the design for manufacture. Finally, all MEBES mask information is protected through several levels of security including 128-bit SSL encryption and user-authentication procedures.

Vincent Tong, vice president of product technology at Xilinx, noted, "At Xilinx, we continue to strive to bring new, innovative, high-quality FPGAs to market quickly and efficiently. One aspect of our silicon production process is to ensure our masks are correct prior to spinning them in silicon. UMC's adoption of MebesCruiser enables us to be even more productive as it gives us greater online access to our efforts with the foundry. Now, our engineers can conduct mask reviews from their home PCs. They no longer need to be in their office to review and discuss changes with overseas resources."

Dr. Kuochun Lee, president and CEO of Oridus, comments, "With design teams and fabs spread throughout the world, and EDA tools and ICs becoming more complex, companies will have to adopt new ways of communicating to avoid confusion and costly mistakes. The Internet is the key to maintaining a competitive advantage in today's business environment. At Oridus, we understand the Internet and we understand the requirements of IC design. We are very well positioned to offer the electronics industry an efficient path from IC design to manufacture by harnessing the power of the Web, and are pleased that UMC is the semiconductor foundry to leverage our newest technology innovations."

About Oridus, Inc.
Oridus is the leading provider of Web-based communication infrastructures for the global engineering industry. The company's innovative client/server technology lets users significantly increase design productivity from the start of the design process through completion, achieve faster time to market, and increase customer satisfaction for repeat business.

Company founders leverage years of experience in IC design, EDA and Internet technologies to develop the only data access architecture optimized for EDA, utilizing EE-specific viewers, data security and multiple levels of access and control. As a result, leading companies such as Sun Microsystems, and Oracle Corporation have formed alliance programs with Oridus. In addition, Oridus provides top-tier semiconductor companies and foundries with its solutions to connect distributed design and manufacturing teams together for highly effective communication independent of distance and time zones.

Oridus has headquarters at 39560 Stevenson Place, Ste. 221, Fremont, California. More information about Oridus can be found at http://www.Oridus.com.

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