QED Increases Speed

Electronic News, March 20, 2000 by Tom Murphy

Quantum Effect Devices Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., has rolled out the RM7000A, a higher-performance, lower-power version of its 64-bit RM7000 MIPS RISC embedded processor. The RM7000A features an increase in clock speed to 450MHz and a power consumption benchmark of 3.5 watts. The latest devices include an on-chip 256Kbyte level 2 cache and is designed for networking applications such as routers, access concentrators, storage area networks, and other high-speed communications devices. The RM7000A includes an advanced memory system and cache architecture designed to allow the processor to deliver higher performance when handling high-speed transient data. The on-chip level 2 cache, fast packet cache, and optional third-level cache are designed to provide better system efficiency and data-intensive applications. The RM7000A is sampling with full production at 400MHz scheduled for the third quarter. A 450MHz, version is slated for release in the fourth quarter and 500MHz samples in 0.15-micron CMOS technology will be available in the fourth quarter as well. The product is priced at $175 and $225 for the 400MHz and 450MHz devices, respectively, in 10,000-unit quantities.

IDT's Telecom Products

Integrated Device Technology Inc., (IDT) Santa Clara, Calif., has taken the wraps off a time slot interchange digital switch family that is designed to accelerate the convergence of voice and data networks. Expansion of "packet-centric" networks creates an opportunity for a new class of equipment with flexibility, redundancy, and compatibility with existing telecommunication networks to maintain quality of service needed for voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP). The IDT TSI switch family is designed to enable VoIP applications to maintain an interface with traditional telephony-based standards, providing the ability to switch and route telephony signals during the transfer of voice information. The TSI switch is based on traditional time-division multiplexed interface standards and is designed for quality and performance. The TSI switch is sampling with prices ranging from $6.50 in units of 10,000 to $58.50 in units of 10,000.

Mitel and RAD Team for VoIP

Mitel Semiconductor, Ottawa, Canada, said last week it is integrating industry standard protocol stacks from RADVision Inc. to provide quality voice to Internet protocol telephony applications aimed at replacing most PBX exchangers in office applications. The first silicon integrating RADVision's protocol is a chipset for Internet Protocol (IP) phones that is scheduled for a spring release. Mitel says it is working on solutions that integrate wireless modules and IP voice gateways, while providing hi-fi quality voice signals and voice recognition solutions. RADVision provides industry-standard H.323 and Media Gateway Control Protocol stacks, which Mitel plans to integrate in its silicon solutions. Mitel's portfolio includes system-on-a-chip baseband controllers, Ethernet PHYs and codecs. A Mitel official said RADVision's technology is one of the most widely used software building blocks for voice over IP (VoIP). Choosing them will enable Mitel's silicon to operate across all of the signaling stack requirements for emerging VoIP solutions. The H.323 core protocol enables the creation of real-time voice calls over IP networks. RADVision's suite of MGCP building blocks separate the signaling, call control, and media internetworking into separate, logical entities.