Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
A-GPS Chip addresses space constraints of cell phones.
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Press Release Summary:
Housed in 2 x 6 x 1.0 mm, 77-pin BGA chip, ROM-based GSCi-5000 Receiver utilizes 90 nm CMOS and 0.18 micron SiGe process technologies. It features integrated low noise amplifier, fractional synthesizer, and technology that minimizes impact of RF jamming and compression issues. Compliant with 3GPP requirements, unit supports Mobile Station-based, MS-assisted, autonomous, and multimode operation. Power consumption is minimized using self-managed periodic fix modes and 5 µA sleep mode.
Original Press Release:
SiRF Launches New Architecture to Significantly Shrink GPS for Mobile Phones
SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 7 /-- SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRF), a leading provider of GPS-enabled silicon and premium software location platforms, today unveiled an extremely small multimode A-GPS chip, the GSCi-5000, optimized to address the space and cost constraints of cellular handsets.
"In the mobile arena today, 'thin is in'; the ultra-slender phones are jumping off the retail shelves. GSCi-5000's small foot print makes it ideal for these applications, and its low cost GPS subsystem implementation will help us expand our multimode AGPS penetration into the mid-range segment of the market," according to Kanwar Chadha, founder and vice president of marketing for SiRF. "Supported by the expertise of SiRF's global organization, we are also pleased that last year's acquisition of Motorola's GPS division has led to the development of this innovative offering."
In SiRF's tradition of introducing innovative location solutions optimized for target platforms, the GSCi-5000 combines many leading edge features to address the specific needs of mobile phones. The ROM based GSCi-5000 receiver packs all of the functional blocks of a GPS receiver into a tiny 4 X 6 X 1.0 mm-sized, 77 pin ball grid arrays (BGA) chip. Integrated low noise amplifier (LNA) and fractional synthesizer reduce overall system cost and size, while SiRF's proprietary patent-pending technology minimizes the impact of RF jamming and compression issues which can hinder the late stages of the handset development cycle. Overall average power consumption is minimized using a combination of self managed periodic fix modes and a 5uA sleep mode. The new architecture utilizes the 90 nanometer CMOS and 0.18 micron SiGe process technologies to achieve market leading size and cost metrics.
Using a protocol based around the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) A-GPS messages, the GSCi-5000 is optimized for easy host software integration. Supporting Mobile Station (MS)-based, MS-assisted, autonomous and multimode operation, the receiver offers the expected levels of flexibility many location based services will demand. GSCi-5000 A-GPS performance is compliant with the industry-standard 3GPP requirements, with extremely fast assisted fix speeds that are better than required by the standard in many cases.
Availability
GSCi-5000 will be demonstrated to key customers at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona in February 2006. Production availability is expected in August 2006.
About SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc.
SiRF Technology Holdings, Inc. develops and markets semiconductor and software products that are designed to enable location-awareness utilizing GPS and other location technologies, enhanced by wireless connectivity capabilities such as Bluetooth, for high-volume mobile consumer devices and commercial applications. SiRF's technology has been integrated into mobile consumer devices such as automobile navigation systems, mobile phones, PDAs, GPS-based peripherals and handheld GPS navigation devices, and into commercial applications such as location servers, asset tracking devices and fleet management systems. SiRF markets and sells its products in four target platforms: automotive, consumer electronics, mobile computing, and wireless devices. Founded in 1995, SiRF is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and has sales offices, design centers and research facilities around the world. The company trades on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the symbol SIRF. Additional information about SiRF and its location technology solutions can be found at www.sirf.com.
CONTACT: Rebecca Parr of SiRF Technology, Inc., +1-408-392-8422, or rparr@sirf.com
