Analog Devices Sells Wireless Chipset Product Lines

Analog Devices is selling its assets related to its Othello baseband chipset product lines, as well as certain cellular handset baseband support operations to the fabless semiconductor firm, MediaTek - for US$350 million in cash.

Through this acquisition, MediaTek's wireless handset division gains: a global team of approximately 400 product development and customer support staff; an established customer base around the world along with new radio transceiver and baseband chipset products, including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, and TD-SCDMA chipsets.

Analog Devices says that it plans to continue to invest in the wireless handset market by focusing on developing high-performance analog, micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS), and programmable digital signal processing (DSP) products that enhance the audio, video, connectivity, and power efficiency capabilities in a range of wireless multimedia devices.

According to Jerald G. Fishman, ADI's president and CEO, "This transaction will allow ADI to focus our resources in areas where our signal processing expertise can provide unique capabilities and earn superior returns. In addition, it unlocks the value of the Othello and SoftFone operations by creating the scale needed to support the R&D investment required for sustainable, long-term success."

Posted to the site on 10th September 2007