Under the agreement the two firms will collaborate on the design of new generation wireless applications using Altera’s programmable logic devices, reprogrammable chips,
The pact will last a total of five years, and make Nortel one of Altera’s top three customers.
In 2000 Altera’s top 10 customers accounted for about 30 % of the company’s $1.38 billion in sales.
Altera have expressed the need to work side by side with end-systems companies like Nortel, as products become far more complex.
Revenues from the agreement are not expected to be substantial until next year due to the length of time required to design and market new products.
