Altera has increased its products over the years to include devices, development tools, and, most recently, intellectual property (IP). IP cores are pre-built functions that are optimized for Altera devices and can be used by our customers to accelerate their design time, lower their development costs, and access technology from outside their expertise.
The IP cores are designed either by Altera's own engineering teams who produce MegaCore IP, or by Altera's partners who are part of the Altera Megafunction Partners Program (AMPP). Altera's Megacore IP resources focus on functions that customers are expected to use very broadly. Third-party AMPP engineers focus on cores that are specific to a customer or few customers.
IP has quickly become a critical part of Altera's value proposition. Currently about 30% of the most important opportunities worldwide contain some form of IP, either from Altera's MegaCore portfolio or third-party AMPP partners. Many opportunities are won or lost today based on the quality of our IP. Altera has always led the industry in driving the quality of IP solutions, which include cores, system builder tools, and development kits. For example, Altera invented a form of IP that is easily customized through a graphical user interface by the end customers. We allow our customers to test-drive IP before they purchase it - an industry first. Altera has also simplified system design by introducing IP system builder tools like SOPC Builder and DSP Builder. These tools enable users to quickly stitch together multiple cores into a complete system. The Intellectual Property Group includes comprehensive responsibility for planning, designing, marketing, and supporting Altera's IP cores, system builder tools, and development kits.
