Leading Chinese Handset Manufacturers Shipping Phones Based On Skyworks' GSM/GPRS System Solution
Available now in China, these new phones highlight advanced features such as GPRS Class 8 Web browsing, dual LCD screens with 65K color internal displays, 40 tone polyphonic melodies and attractive clamshell designs.
GSM/GPRS is a key element of 2.5-generation (2.5G) wireless technology, a major stepping-stone to third-generation (3G) wireless standards that deliver an "always on," fast connection to packet-based voice, video and data services.
China represents the world's largest GSM market. According to EMC, a wireless market research firm, the nation's subscriber base is expected to more than double in the next four years, from 205 million at the end of 2002 to 437 million by 2006. Meanwhile, terminal sales are anticipated to increase from 93 million in 2002 to 149 million units in 2006.
"We are extremely pleased that our complete GSM/GPRS cellular system solution is supporting two of China's largest domestic handset manufacturers and is serving as the foundation from which they can develop numerous future wireless platforms," said Murthy Renduchintala, Skyworks' vice president of cellular systems.
"Based on their successful handset launches and current design activity, we expect these two customers to represent more than $20 million in additional Skyworks revenue this year. At the same time, these key relationships further diversify our customer base and increase our penetration in China, the world's most significant GSM/GPRS market."
About the GSM/GPRS Solution
Skyworks' cellular system solution includes all major ICs, a full protocol stack, MMI, all necessary development tools and customer support required to build a complete Internet-enabled GSM/GPRS handset.
The hardware portion of Skyworks' solution implements all digital and analog baseband processing, multi-band/multi-slot power amplification, power management, battery charging and transceiver functions.
The system incorporates Skyworks' industry-leading, low-power, direct conversion transceiver, which eliminates the intermediate-frequency conversion steps of earlier mobile handset solutions. Skyworks' protocol stack has been field tested, qualified and approved in more than 50 countries, and by more than 70 GSM network providers worldwide.
About Skyworks
Skyworks Solutions Inc. is the industry's leading wireless semiconductor company focused on RF and complete cellular system solutions for mobile communications applications. The company began operations in June 2002, following the completion of the merger between Alpha Industries, Inc. and Conexant Systems, Inc.'s wireless communications business. Skyworks is focused on providing front-end modules, RF subsystems and cellular systems to wireless handset and infrastructure customers worldwide.
Skyworks is headquartered in Woburn, Mass., with executive offices in Irvine, Calif. The company has design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific. For more information please visit www.skyworksinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include information relating to future results of Skyworks (including certain projections and business trends). All such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, and may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: global economic and market conditions, such as the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; the ability to develop, manufacture and market innovative products in a rapidly changing technological environment; the ability to compete with products and prices in an intensely competitive industry; product obsolescence; losses or curtailments of purchases from key customers or the timing of customer inventory adjustments; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of raw materials, critical manufacturing equipment and manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; the ability to continue to grow and maintain an intellectual property portfolio and obtain needed licenses from third parties; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; economic, social and political conditions in the countries in which Skyworks, its customers or its suppliers operate, including security risks, possible disruptions in transportation networks and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Note to Editors: Skyworks and Skyworks Solutions are trademarks or registered trademarks of Skyworks Solutions Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. All other brands and names listed are trademarks of their respective companies.
CONTACT:
Skyworks Solutions Inc.
Lisa Briggs (media relations), 949/231-4553
lisa.briggs@skyworksinc.com
or
Thomas Schiller (investor relations), 949/231-4700