DURHAM, N.C, and EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 15, 2006 -- Cree Inc., a maker of semiconductors for solid-state lighting, power and communications products, and Applied Wave Research Inc., a supplier of high-frequency electronic design automation (EDA) products for wireless telecommunications, semiconductors and other electronics-based applications, announce the availability of a process design kit supporting Cree's high-power silicon carbide (SiC) process.

The kit, announced this week at the 2006 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium in San Francisco, enables monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) designers to use Cree's MMIC process within AWR's Microwave Office software environment. Designers can now improve productivity by applying AWR's open and integrated design platform to Cree's wide bandgap (WBG) SiC MMIC foundry services and discrete products, the companies said.

"Cree is committed to making its industry-leading power wide bandgap MMIC technologies accessible through the EDA tools and flows our customers prefer," said Jim Milligan, Cree's manager of wide bandgap radio frequency products. "The release of this kit is an important part of that commitment and we are pleased to be working with AWR to provide this and future GaN solutions as well." Wide bandgap technologies such as SiC and gallium nitride (GaN) can produce more power in a smaller space while dissipating less heat than other available device technologies.

Key to Cree's market advantage, the company said, is its materials expertise in SiC and GaN for chips and packaged devices that can handle more power in a smaller space while producing less heat than other available technologies, materials and products. Cree drives its increased performance technology into multiple applications including exciting alternatives in brighter and more tunable light for general illumination, backlighting for more vivid displays, optimized power management for high-current switch-mode power supplies and variable speed motors, and more effective wireless infrastructure for data and voice communications.

For more information, visit: www.cree.com or www.appwave.com; e-mail: materialssales@cree.com or info@appwave.com

Cree Inc. 4600 Silicon Dr. Durham, NC 27703 Phone: (919) 313-5300 Fax: (919) 313-5451

Applied Wave Research Inc. 1960 E. Grand Ave., Suite 430 El Segundo, CA 90245 Phone: (310) 726-3000 Fax: (310) 726-3005

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