TriQuint Sets the Benchmark with Highly Integrated, Global Front End Solution for 3G Handsets
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Modules Support Worldwide Standards, Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and Tri-band WCDMA/HSUPA, While Improving Battery Life, Reducing Dropped Calls
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 12 - TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TQNT), a leading RF front-end product manufacturer and foundry services provider, today announced a new multi-mode system solution using highly-integrated modules to support all global standards from 2G GSM/GPRS to the latest multimedia-centric 3G standards, including HSUPA. The four new highly-compact modules have quickly impressed handset customers, and are aligned with Infineon's SMARTi(TM) UE transceivers*. TriQuint will display its new solution at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain (11th - 14th Feb. 2008).
At a press conference during the 2008 Congress, TriQuint CEO Ralph Quinsey discussed the key role TriQuint's RF technology plays in enabling the latest generation of mobile phone designs. Mr. Quinsey said "Manufacturers are looking for solutions that work across multiple air interfaces and form factors whether building traditional, flip or slider phones. Our highly integrated modules and high linearity pHEMT switch provide a single antenna solution for both GSM and WCDMA radios in a multi-standard handset. The global system solution we are announcing today is enabled by our broad in-house technology portfolio. TriQuint is uniquely positioned to deliver integrated solutions that offer world-class performance, a reduced bill-of-materials, smaller size, longer battery life and proven interoperability with leading chip-set solutions."
TriQuint's four new modules provide a global solution for quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band WCDMA/HSUPA, all from a single antenna. TriQuint's newest switch design acts as glue between these air interfaces, enabling this high-performing one-antenna solution. Because TriQuint has the industry's broadest in-house technology portfolio, including the latest innovations in GaAs HBT, GaAs pHEMT, SAW and BAW, it can design, tune and manufacture components to achieve cost efficiencies and performance optimizations.
"Lead customers have told TriQuint its solution has set the benchmark; development samples are in high demand, and TriQuint is preparing to ramp volume production based on overwhelming feedback," remarked TriQuint Vice President Tim Dunn, leader of its Handset Business Unit. Today's announcement includes the TQM676021, TQM666022 and TQM616025 TRITIUM III PA-Duplexer Modules(TM), and the TQM6M9008, the first member of the QUANTUM II Tx Module(TM) family. The QUANTUM Tx Module(TM) architecture has been well accepted by the industry, with shipments exceeding 100 million units. Analysts have noted demand for integrated modules is on the rise, since modules reduce handset design and manufacturing time, as compared to using several discrete components.
Speaking at today's press conference, Alan Brown, Research Director at Gartner, Inc. a research and advisory firm, said "Price is only the entry ticket for success in the mobile phone RF market. Mobile phone manufacturers will choose on power consumption, small size, and ability to supply the right technology now and in the future. Since consumer demand for the latest features requires shorter design time, handset manufacturers are doing everything possible to reduce time to market."
Technology Overview
The new TRITIUM III PA-Duplexer Modules(TM) are high data-rate HSUPA compliant and support Band 1, Band 2 and Bands 5/6. The 7x4mm footprint is 30 percent smaller than previous designs, leaving more board space for handset manufacturers to add rich features such as cameras, WiFi and Bluetooth® connectivity. Each highly-integrated TRITIUM III PA-Duplexer Module(TM) includes a power amplifier, duplexer, and Tx interstage filter and a coupler / detector, thus eliminating multiple discrete devices and reducing phone development time. The high-efficiency architecture is optimized to reduce battery consumption, increasing the time between charges.
The TQM6M9008 QUANTUM II Tx Module(TM) combines a GSM/EDGE power amplifier, WEDGE Antenna Switch, filtering and CMOS controller into one highly integrated 7x7.5mm module. The TQM6M9008 improves time to market with a plug-and-play solution that requires no customization by the handset manufacturers to work across multiple handset form factors such as traditional, flips and sliders, all on a common platform. It helps reduce the number of dropped calls by exceeding the network operator's stringent Total Radiated Power (TRP) requirements, which tests the effective level of radiated power while the phone is in a transmit mode. Conventional phones tend to drop calls when used in common positions such as close to the head or on the dashboard of a car. TriQuint's new TRP circuitry senses the signal degradation in these environments and adjusts the power amplifier performance to reduce the number of dropped calls while simultaneously optimizing power consumption for improved battery life.
Availability
TriQuint is currently sampling both the TRITIUM III PA-Duplexers(TM) and QUANTUM II Tx Modules(TM) to lead customers. Customers interested in obtaining samples and evaluation boards should contact info-handsets@triquint.com.
FACTS ABOUT TRIQUINT
Founded in 1985, we "Connect the Digital World to the Global Network"(TM) by supplying high-performance RF modules, components and foundry services to the world's leading communications companies. Specifically, TriQuint supplies products to four out of the top five cellular handset manufacturers, and is a leading gallium arsenide (GaAs) supplier to major defense and space contractors. TriQuint creates standard and custom products using advanced processes that include gallium arsenide, surface acoustic wave (SAW) and bulk acoustic wave (BAW) technologies to serve diverse markets including wireless handsets, base stations, broadband communications and military. TriQuint is also lead researcher in a 3-year DARPA program to develop advanced gallium nitride (GaN) amplifiers. TriQuint, as named by Strategy Analytics in August 2007, is the number-three worldwide leader in GaAs devices and the world's largest commercial GaAs foundry. TriQuint has ISO9001 certified manufacturing facilities in Oregon, Texas, and Florida and a production plant in Costa Rica; design centers are located in North America and Germany. Visit TriQuint at triquint.com/rf to register for our newsletters.
*Other names property of respective companies.
Source: TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
CONTACT: Shane Smith, Director of Marketing, +1-503-615-9473, Mobile,
+1-407-489-5291, ssmith@tqs.com,
or Paul Cooper, Strategic Marketing
+Manager,
Mobile, +1-603-490-7195, pcooper@tqs.com,
or Shannon Rudd, Marketing Communications Mgr, +1-503-615-9407, Mobile, +1-503-750-3290, srudd@tqs.com, all of TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.
Web site: http://www.triquint.com/
