QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies Announces New Family of Chipsets And System Software to Support HDR Technology - iMSM4500 and iMSM5500 - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, Nov 15, 1999

QUALCOMM Incorporated, pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, Monday introduced a family of High Data Rate (HDR) chipsets and system software solutions capable of providing a major advancement in transmission speed for wireless data communications. This new product line features support for QUALCOMM's HDR, a spectrally efficient technology providing up to 2.4 Mbps peak rate in a standard cdmaOne 1.25 MHz channel bandwidth which will enhance end-user experience by providing Internet access from wireless devices.

"We are excited about the opportunities the HDR product family opens up to handset manufacturers, wireless carriers and especially the end-user. People will now be able to access the Internet or enterprise networks at speeds previously only dreamed about," said Don Schrock, president of QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "It's now possible to have faster data rates in the palm of your hand than many people have on their desktops in their homes."

QUALCOMM's HDR technology is optimized for packet data services with a flexible architecture based on standard Internet Protocols (IP). The technology is compatible with IS-95A, IS-95B and 3G networks such as G3G CDMA Multi-Carrier 1x (MC). HDR will enhance existing cdmaOne service providers' networks to achieve higher data rates and maintain performance for their customers by optimizing voice and data spectrum. As current networks migrate to third-generation (3G) networks, HDR will continue to provide complementary high-speed data capabilities.

"Not only do we strive to offer the most advanced features and integration, we are also intent on providing the smoothest path and fastest time-to-market for new, advanced HDR wireless products," said Johan Lodenius, vice president of marketing and product management, QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "We are committed to working closely with our partners to introduce a new breed of wireless Internet devices and services with world leading performance."

The first product in the family, the iMSM4500 Mobile Station Modem (MSM) solution, will be dual-mode to support HDR and IS-95A and IS-95B. The iMSM4500 chip will be pin-compatible with QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies' recently sampled sixth generation MSM3100 chip, enabling existing handset manufacturers to minimize printed circuit board (PCB) changes when adding HDR, allowing accelerated time to market for HDR products. The iMSM4500 chipset and system software will be fabricated in a 0.25 micron process in a 0.8mm ball pitch 208-pin Fine Pitched Ball Grid Array (FBGA) package.

The iMSM4500 chipset and system software includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface to easily support 2.4 Mbps and to enable effective interconnection to desktop, laptop and handheld devices that would benefit from high-speed multimedia data transfers or synchronization with personal computers. Special attention has been focused on an optimized system software solution, which is fully compliant with dual-mode cellular and Personal Communications Service (PCS) band IS-95B specifications. The software includes a full suite of Internet protocols for fast development of data applications and ships fully tested and integrated into QUALCOMM's CDMA development tools for fast and flexible customer development. The iMSM4500 solution will sample in the fourth quarter of 2000 with production quantities scheduled for the first quarter of 2001.

The next generation of this chipset is the iMSM5500 which will support G3G CDMA 1x MC and HDR technology. This solution will provide up to twice the overall capacity of voice users over IS-95A and IS-95B plus the 2.4 Mbps speed of HDR fully realizing the convergence of the Internet and wireless technologies and services. Samples are scheduled for the second quarter of 2001 with production quantities scheduled for the third quarter of 2001.

This new product line incorporating the HDR technology will easily and efficiently enable manufacturers to deliver products with access to services that were previously only available through wired connections to the Internet or enterprise networks. In addition to e-mail, web browsing and e-commerce, it will now be possible to use wireless devices to receive audio and video based information or large files, such as those for presentations, spreadsheets or audits. In conjunction with the advancement of telematics, large amounts of data for information, navigation or entertainment can be more effectively accessed by wireless applications for cars and trucks.

QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies is the leading developer and supplier of CDMA chipsets, hardware and software solutions and tools with more than 65 million MSM chips shipped worldwide. The division supplies chipsets to the world's leading CDMA handset and infrastructure manufacturers including: Acer Peripherals, Inc., ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.; DENSO CORPORATION; FUJITSU LIMITED; Hitachi, Ltd.; Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.; KYOCERA CORPORATION; LG Information and Communications, Ltd.; Samsung Electronics Ltd.; SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.; and Toshiba Corporation, among others.