Company Overview

Altera produces and markets 11 different families of programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and certain logic development tools. The company also provides the software and support for the PLDs. Based in San Jose, Altera is courted by companies in the communication, computing, and industrial markets, which use Altera’s products to bring new electronic products to market more quickly and cost-effectively. Its customer base of more than 14,000 is split between North American and international buyers; the international market makes up about 60 percent of sales. Altera experienced a sharp drop in sales from 2000 to 2003 due to poor market conditions. It responded by introducing several new products, which have helped steadily increase its sales through 2005.