Skyworks Introduces World's Smallest Complete EDGE Radio
Helios Mini Builds on Advanced Polar Modulation Technology to Further Reduce Complexity, Size, Cost and Power Requirements for Next-Generation Handsets
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:SWKS), the industry's leading wireless semiconductor company focused on radio frequency (RF) and complete cellular system solutions for mobile communications applications, today announced it has released the world's smallest complete dual-chip radio subsystem for E-GPRS (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) mobile platforms. By combining the company's single-chip direct conversion transceiver with a power amplifier containing an integrated PA controller (PA/PAC), Skyworks has significantly cut space requirements for EDGE radio circuitry while improving performance, accelerating design cycle times and reducing costs.
Helios Mini is a complete radio solution for GSM, GPRS and EDGE mobile handset applications that builds on the advantages of Skyworks' earlier three-chip version. It features the company's industry-leading, patent-pending Polar Loop transmit modulation technology, enabling the radio to transmit both constant as well as non-constant envelope signals through the same transmit path. This approach minimizes the number of external components that are required, and improves talk times by as much as 10 percent by increasing PA efficiency in EDGE mode as compared to conventional architectures. Helios Mini also includes the company's latest single-chip direct conversion transceiver, which works with the subsystem's PA/PAC to create a seamless closed-loop transmit system.
"Following on the success of our innovative, first generation solution, Helios Mini takes EDGE radio integration to an unprecedented level," said Kevin Barber, senior vice president of RF Solutions at Skyworks. "With an ever-increasing number of handsets embedding advanced multimedia feature sets, radio footprint, power efficiency, design flexibility and overall cost are paramount considerations. Helios Mini meets demanding customer needs, while accelerating time-to-market."
The Helios family showcases Skyworks' unique ability to pair field-proven front-end module technology with radio functionality, and can be used to develop handsets with advanced features of varying complexity such as color displays, integrated digital cameras, Web browsing and multimedia messaging services (MMS).
Technical Details
The Helios Polar Loop solution condenses all required EDGE RF subsystem functionality into two compact devices:
SKY74945 Direct Conversion Transceiver
Based on Skyworks' industry-leading single-chip technology, the SKY74945 consists of a direct conversion receiver, a transmitter with a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and a fully integrated fractional-N synthesizer.
SKY77332 PA/PAC
Skyworks has incorporated a GSM850/900 block, a DCS1800/PCS1900 PA block, impedance-matching circuitry for 50-ohm input and output, an integrated coupler, a downconverter and a PA control block into a single 56-pin, 8mm-by-8mm-by-1mm RFLGA package. Integrated noise filtering eliminates the need for pre-PA filters, and the PA inside the control loop provides excellent error vector magnitude (EVM) and phase error performance with up to 6:1 voltage standing wave radio (VSWR) without the need for an external isolator.
Pricing and Availability
Helios Mini is sampling now and priced at $7.00 in quantities of 10,000. Volume production is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2005.
Skyworks at 3GSM World Congress
Skyworks will be showcasing its GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA portfolio at Stand D27, Hall 2 at the 3GSM World Congress, being held Feb. 14-17 in Cannes.
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 is focused on providing front-end modules, RF subsystems and cellular systems to handset, WLAN and infrastructure customers.
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). Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "believes," "plans," "may," "will," "continue," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. All such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely 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 and health 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 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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.
CONTACT: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
Kirsten Brundahl (Media), 949-231-3045
kirsten.brundahl@skyworksinc.com
or
Thomas Schiller (Investors), 949-231-4700
SOURCE: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.