QualCore to get into chip development

HYDERABAD: QualCore Logic Limited, a Hyderabad-based VLSI circuits designer,

is all set to storm the chip market with its own products. The wholly owned

subsidiary of QualCore Group Inc. has already got the green signal from its

parent company regarding the development of its own products. "We have

already laid the roadmap for coming out with our own products within the next

six to nine months," said QualCore president and MD M N L Acharyulu.

QualCore, which is currently working on areas like VLSI, ASIIC design,

micro-controllers, DSP and USB, has recently designed communication controller

design chips for Zilog, a communication major. The company has also designed

major blocks for the chips being developed by C-Cube Microsystems Inc. Both the

designs have been taped out. "The reason behind us coming out with our own

product is very simple. We already have all the infrastructure and the necessary

manpower to develop and design a communications chip," explained Acharyulu.

Initially, the company is looking at manufacturing chips for the communication

networks industry. It is also working on designs for Believe Inc, Integrated

Systems Solutions Corporation, Flextronics Semiconductor and Epson Electronics.

The company has a workforce of 120, of which nearly 100 are chip designers,

"In fact, it is one of the few companies in the world that has such a large

number of chip engineers with them," he said. It is also planning to design

and develop chips for DSP, communications and the micro-controllers segment.

"We have already done a lot of development for companies like OKI, C-Cube,

Flextronics and Epson and that has given us an added advantage to come out of a

chip of our own," he said.

QualCore Logic, which started operations in 1999, posted revenues of Rs 7.4

crore last year. It has projected an 80 per cent growth for the coming year. The

company, which has 120 professionals working here in Hyderabad, plans to recruit

around 50 more in the next six months to strengthen its development process. It

plans to expand its marketing reach to Japan, Korea and Israel by entering into

distribution tie-ups for its IP codes.