STMicroelectronics Announces Wireless LAN Chip for Wi-Fi Enabled Mobile Phones


Already designed into several cellular handsets, ST's leading-edge STLC4370 WLAN IC is now in volume production

GENEVA, Feb. 9 -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a worldwide leader in system-on-chip technology, revealed today the successful introduction to volume production of its STLC4370 Mobile Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) solution. The STLC4370 is the first of a family of single-chip WLAN devices specifically designed for cellular handsets. This low-power compact solution has already been designed into several recently launched Wi-Fi-enabled cellular handsets.

Suitable for enterprise smart phones and consumer multimedia handsets, this complete WLAN solution provides high-speed power efficient IEEE802.11g performance without compromising battery life. The compact nature of the STLC4370 reference design has enabled its design into multiple form-factor mobile phones including candy bar, compact PDA, and innovative fold-open keyboard designs.

The STLC4370 contains a fully integrated single-chip WLAN, including ZIF (Zero Intermediate Frequency) transceiver, RF Synthesizer/VCO (Voltage- Controlled Oscillator), high-speed data converters, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing/Complementary Code Keying OFDM/CCK digital baseband processor, an ARM9-based Media Access Controller (MAC) and a complete Power Management Unit with integrated Power Amplifier bias control. An external front-end module completes a highly integrated solution with minimum retail Bill-of-Materials.

The STLC4XXX family of single-chip devices will expand in Q1 2006 with an IEEE802.11b/g and a dual-band IEEE802.11a/b/g solution. The family focuses on the two key success factors of the mobile device, the footprint and solution cost, which have been reduced to ensure the rapid adoption of WLAN connectivity into the mainstream converged mobile handset.

WLAN-enabled handsets offer the users the ability to easily connect to corporate email services and advanced voice functions, including Internet Protocol PBX (Private Branch Exchange) connectivity. Vital to ensuring reliable operation, the STLC4370 offers support for IEEE802.11e Quality of Service. The family maintains data protection using the integrated security features that take full advantage of IEEE802.11i and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) features.

Host control is provided by a flexible SDIO (Secure Digital Input/Output) or SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) interface supporting clock rates of up to 48Mbps. For maximum flexibility and reduced costs, the STLC4XXX supports system reference-clock frequencies of 19.2, 38.4, and 40MHz. ST offers a reference-design evaluation platform of hardware and software system integrators to rapidly enable wireless connectivity to mobile platforms.

Taking full advantage of the Symbian OS and Series 60 UI, the WLAN drivers deliver advanced power-save options, which extend both standby and talk times. The STLC4XXX is ideal for integration into cellular phones and can also benefit other (power and size sensitive) applications including Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), hand-held data transfer devices, and digital cameras. For non-cellular devices, ST provides a full suite of Linux drivers which offer rapid development of tablet or multimedia platforms.

"Whether it's a cellular phone that plays music or an MP3 player and camera phone, the lines between handset and consumer device are blurring," said Matthew Hatch, General Manager of ST's Wireless LAN Business Unit. "Subscribers are demanding the choice of fast download of their own music collection over IEEE802.11g WLAN or access to the latest online music over the cellular network."

Available in volume production, budgetary pricing for the STLC4370 is approximately $10 in quantities of 100,000 pieces.

This press release is also available at: http://st.com/stonline/stappl/press/news/year2006/p1754.htm

... with links to further information on the STLC4370.

About ST's Home, Personal, Communication Group (HPC)
STMicroelectronics is a world-leading supplier of comprehensive solutions for the converging segments of home entertainment, communication, and connectivity. ST's HPC product offering encompasses a whole range of applications in the digital consumer market, including set-top box, DVD, TV, and audio; a wide array of solutions for personal multimedia, from application processors to energy management, mobile imaging, and wireless connectivity; and a full spectrum of display ICs and devices for wireless and wireline network infrastructures.

About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2005, the Company's net revenues were $8.88 billion and net earnings were $266 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com/.

CONTACT: Michael Markowitz of STMicroelectronics, +1-212-821-8959, michael.markowitz@st.com

Web site: http://www.st.com/
http://st.com/stonline/stappl/press/news/year2006/p1754.htm

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