Agere Speeds up Wireless Communication

By Susan Hospod
iApplianceWeb
(09/25/01, 08:43:24 AM EDT)

The SVL12, Agere Systems' complete platform solution for wireless handsets, nearly quadruples Internet data rates, reduces electronics components by nearly 50 percent, and accelerates time-to-market for wireless handsets by up to one year.

Agere's platform, based on Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology extends handset serviceability to global regions, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, as well as in the United States. The SVL12 is a Class 12 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) hardware and software system solution, which function at higher speeds and can benefit numerous applications, such as sending emails with attachments and uploading files. Plus Agere's platform typically offers more than 200 hours of standby-time and more than 200 minutes of talk-time.

Agere's system-on-a-chip platform reduces the number of components to approximately 150 -- down from about 300 on previous-generation technology -- thereby shaving electronics components costs. Using Agere's Man Machine Interface (MMI) and production test tools, the manufacturer can get its handset to production in about six months, saving up to a year in design and development time.

Agere's platform also offers product design flexibility for handset manufacturers. The platform houses the core baseband technologies, including digital signal processing (DSP) functions, radio frequency modules, and system input/output on one side of the printed circuit board and reference MMI on the other. The platform's baseband technologies are designed as separate modules that can be placed in different sections of the handset. This makes it easier for manufacturers to offer clamshell design handsets, standard handsets, or PC-card modules.

Sample quantities are available now, and production quantities are scheduled to be available in next year's first quarter.

Link:
Agere Systems