Smaller 3G Handsets on the Way

Freescale Semiconductor says that it has a fourth generation, multimode 3G WCDMA/EDGE cellular RF subsystem that can shrink board space by some 70%, leading to smaller 3G handsets. Typically, subsystems require greater than a hundred components. Freescale's 3G WCDMA/EDGE dual-mode RF cellular subsystem for handsets allows customers a three-to-one component reduction in less than 649 mm2 of board space. Additionally, consumers are expected to enjoy one-third longer talk and standby times over previous generation subsystems.

"In offering an RF cellular subsystem for 3G WCDMA/EDGE with the industry's smallest footprint, Freescale products will be attractive to customers throughout the handset market who want to build sleek devices with the multimedia features consumers want," says Will Strauss, president of the electronic market research firm Forward Concepts.

According to Strauss, the handset market for WCDMA/UMTS is growing 168% in 2005 to the 45.6-million-unit level.

"While other companies are still experimenting with early generations of WCDMA RF subsystems, Freescale is now providing a fully mature, robust fourth-generation solution," said Kent Heath, director of cellular operations, Radio Products Division for Freescale. "This paves the way for our customers to provide smaller, cheaper 3G phones with extended talk times."

Freescale's WCDMA/EDGE-supported RF subsystem integrates digital interfacing to the baseband processor for industry-wide compatibility and continues to support emerging standards such as DigRF. DigRF is a global standard of an efficient physical interconnection between baseband and RF integrated circuits for digital cellular terminals. The world's first fully DigRF-compliant radio for EDGE handsets was introduced by Freescale earlier this year."

Posted to the site on 20th June 2005