QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies Announces New Family of Multimode and Multiband Integrated Circuits and System Software Solutions

Business Wire, Feb 20, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2001

MSM6xxx Family to Enable True Global Wireless Roaming Across

cdma2000, 1xEV, WCDMA and GSM Networks

QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced a revolutionary new family of CDMA Mobile Station Modem (MSM(TM)) integrated circuits and system software -- the MSM6xxx family. QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies (QCT) developed this family of products to support key multimode, multiband second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) wireless technologies and to enable true wireless global roaming. It is the first wireless handset family to leverage a common overall systems architecture for baseband, radio and software elements, enabled by the new radioOne(TM) direct RF-to-baseband conversion technology. Various members of the MSM6xxx family will support the worldwide 3G IMT-2000 standard, including cdma2000, 1xEV and WCDMA modes, as well as offering compatibility with the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), IS-95 A/B (cdmaOne(TM)) and Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) standards.

In addition, the MSM6xxx family will use a common set of Wireless Internet Launchpad(TM) features, enabling rapid design of a broad range of products with rich multimedia, Bluetooth(TM), Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning and many more capabilities.

"QUALCOMM's new MSM6xxx family of integrated circuits and system software is the only solution in the industry to provide complete support for key multimode and multiband 2G and 3G technologies," said Don Schrock, president of QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "It sets a new standard for wireless communications technology, using a common architecture for baseband and radio integrated circuits as well as system software and feature sets. By supporting both existing and emerging wireless markets, QCT provides manufacturers with products that will help them become the first to offer their customers highly optimized and integrated solutions, new services and true global roaming capabilities."

Each member of the MSM6xxx family will interface with QCT's radioOne Zero Intermediate Frequency (ZIF) or direct conversion architecture, which converts incoming RF signals directly to or from baseband analog signals. This new technology eliminates the need for large IF Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters and additional IF circuitry. By combining a variety of system technologies onto a single chip, the highly integrated MSM6xxx family will provide manufacturers with solutions that require fewer components. This will reduce Bill of Material (BOM) costs, component count and system power consumption, requiring less board space and enabling smaller devices that offer improved talk time and permit longer running multimedia applications.

With its high degree of integration, the MSM6xxx family of integrated circuits and system software will allow manufacturers to design a wide variety of high-speed, Internet capable products that support a rich feature set -- quickly, securely and cost efficiently. QCT's Wireless Internet Launchpad suite of advanced technologies and software is an integral part of the MSM6xxx integrated circuit and system software family, and includes the gpsOne(TM) position-location solution featuring SnapTrack(TM) technology, Bluetooth connectivity capabilities, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) controller, and multimedia features such as Qtunes(TM) Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-1) Layer-3 (MP3) audio-player software, QTV(TM) streaming video support using PacketVideo's PVPlayer(TM) MPEG-4 streaming media decoder, and Compact Media Extension (CMX(TM)) Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)-based multimedia software. The MSM6xxx family also supports the advanced features offered by QCT's MSP(TM) family of application processors for fast development of tightly integrated smart phone, automotive and other Internet appliances.

"QCT's MSM6xxx family provides a comprehensive solution that combines new, innovative RF and advanced MSM technologies with our leading Wireless Internet Launchpad capabilities, setting a new benchmark in overall modem and feature integration for the wireless industry," said Johan Lodenius, senior vice president of marketing and product management for QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "For the first time, there is a complete system solution that provides the latest worldwide modem technologies, the most wide ranging feature sets and dramatic power savings for improved talk and standby time. The MSM6xxx series will enable practical and cost-efficient use of wireless multimedia for any market."

Samples of the initial products from the MSM6xxx family of integrated circuits and system software are expected to ship in the first quarter of calendar 2002.

QCT, a division of QUALCOMM Incorporated, is a developer and supplier of CDMA integrated circuits, hardware and software solutions, and tools, with more than 133 million cumulative shipments of MSM chips worldwide. QCT offers wireless position location technology by SnapTrack, a wholly owned subsidiary of QUALCOMM. QCT supplies integrated circuits to the world's leading CDMA handset and infrastructure manufacturers including: Acer Peripherals, Inc., ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.; 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.