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Press Release

Skyworks Unveils Family of Front-End Modules with Breakthrough Power Control Performance for Quad Band Cellular Handsets

Skyworks Unveils Family of Front-End Modules with Breakthrough Power Control Performance for Quad Band Cellular HandsetsWOBURN, Mass. --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 16, 2009-- Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWKS), an innovator of high reliability analog and mixed signal semiconductors enabling a broad range of end markets, today introduced a suite of front-end modules (FEM) with breakthrough power control performance for quad band cellular handsets. The unique power control scheme is based on a coupler detector which greatly enhances the total radiated power (TRP) performance. These small footprint and highly efficient GSM, GPRS and EDGE solutions support Broadcom’s, Infineon’s and MediaTek’s 2.5G and 3G platforms.

“Skyworks’ highly integrated front-end modules utilize a small footprint and unique power control scheme to improve total radiated power performance – a key factor in today’s advanced handsets,” said Thomas Richter, Skyworks’ director of product marketing for front-end solutions. “Our complete transmission to antenna solution with integrated electrostatic discharge network is the perfect combination for today’s mobile handset manufacturers as they look to reduce bill-of-materials and printed circuit board footprint.”

Skyworks’ 2.5G and 3G FEMs with Unique Power Control Scheme

The SKY77527 (8 x 6 x 1.12 mm) – optimized for Infineon’s reference designs – and the SKY77528 (8 x 6 x 1.1 mm) – supporting Broadcom’s platform – consist of a GSM850/900 and DCS1800/PCS1900 PA block, impedance matching circuitry for 50 ohm input and output impedances, a multifunction PA control (MFC) block, low pass harmonic rejection filters, and a single pole six throw (SP6T) antenna transmit/receive (T/R) switch. The MFC in the SKY77527 provides “pinout” for interoperation with an external power control loop. The external circuit uses the linear detector output to provide closed loop power control in EDGE and gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) modes of operation.

With an integrated saturation, detection and correction circuit, the SKY77528 also improves phone reliability with output radio frequency spectrum (ORFS) performance in voltage standing wave radio (VSWR) and low-battery condition.

The SKY77529 (7.5 x 7 x 1.1 mm) – optimized for Infineon’s reference designs – consists of a GSM850/900 PA block and a DCS1800/PCS1900 PA block, a printed directional coupler for each block impedance-matching circuitry for 50 ohm input and output impedances, a MFC block, low pass harmonic rejection filters, and a SP8T antenna T/R switch. The FEM, with an antenna that connects to any one of two reception (Rx) or four wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) Rx/Tx ports, incorporates full support for a serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus function.

The SPI controller, which offers convenient digital control, accepts SPI telegrams with data fields that support PA and switchplexer-related functions. All FEM operating modes and switch states shall be determined by the SPI telegram. The MFC provides pinout for interoperation with a specified transceiver that will establish a closed loop power control mechanism. The external circuit uses the linear detector output to set a fixed bias point for 8PSK (EDGE) mode and a variable bias point for GMSK (GSM) mode, which allows easy-to-implement timing and calibration.

Finally, the SKY77546 (7 x 6 x 1.0 mm) consists of an extended global system for mobile communications (EGSM900) PA block and a DCS1800 PA block, impedance-matching circuitry for 50 ohm inputs and outputs, a multi-function PA control block, low pass harmonic rejection filter, and a Tx/Rx antenna switch. Supporting MediaTek’s low-cost EDGE platform, the module contains a diplexer filter which provides excellent harmonics and electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance.

Pricing and Availability

For customized pricing, please contact sales@skyworksinc.com. Availability is as follows:

  • The SKY77527 – In volume production.
  • The SKY77528 – In volume production.
  • The SKY77529 – Sampling now.
  • The SKY77546 – Sampling Q2 2009.

About Skyworks

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is an innovator of high reliability analog and mixed signal semiconductors. Leveraging core technologies, Skyworks offers diverse standard and custom linear products supporting automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, energy management, industrial, medical, military and mobile handset applications. The Company’s portfolio includes amplifiers, attenuators, detectors, diodes, directional couplers, front-end modules, hybrids, infrastructure RF subsystems, mixers/demodulators, phase shifters, PLLs/synthesizers/VCOs, power dividers/combiners, receivers, switches and technical ceramics.

Headquartered in Woburn, Mass. , Skyworks is worldwide with engineering, manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout Asia , Europe and North America . For more information, please visit Skyworks’ Web site at: 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 and expectations of Skyworks (including certain projections and business trends). Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "forecasts," "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: unprecedented uncertainty regarding global economic and financial market conditions; the susceptibility of the wireless semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by our, and our customers', products to economic downturns; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders and our ability, as well as the ability of our customers, to manage inventory; losses or curtailments of purchases or payments from key customers, or the timing of customer inventory adjustments; changes in laws, regulations and/or policies in the United States that could adversely affect financial markets and our ability to raise capital; our ability to develop, manufacture and market innovative products in a highly price competitive and rapidly changing technological environment; economic, social and political conditions in the countries in which we, our customers or our suppliers operate, including security and health risks, possible disruptions in transportation networks and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; fluctuations in our manufacturing yields due to our complex and specialized manufacturing processes; delays or disruptions in production due to equipment maintenance, repairs and/or upgrades; our reliance on several key customers for a large percentage of our sales; fluctuations in the manufacturing yields of our third party semiconductor foundries and other problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of our products; the availability and pricing of third party semiconductor foundry, assembly and test capacity and raw materials; our ability to timely and accurately predict market requirements and evolving industry standards, and to identify opportunities in new markets; uncertainties of litigation, including potential disputes over intellectual property infringement and rights, as well as payments related to the licensing and/or sale of such rights; our ability to rapidly develop new products and avoid product obsolescence; our ability to retain, recruit and hire key executives, technical personnel and other employees in the positions and numbers, with the experience and capabilities, and at the compensation levels needed to implement our business and product plans; lengthy product development cycles that impact the timing of new product introductions; unfavorable changes in product mix; the quality of our products and any remediation costs; shorter than expected product life cycles; problems or delays that we may face in shifting our products to smaller geometry process technologies and in achieving higher levels of design integration; and our ability to continue to grow and maintain an intellectual property portfolio and obtain needed licenses from third parties, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission .

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake 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, 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.

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Source: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

Skyworks Media Relations:
Amanda Ingalls, 949-231-3045
or
Skyworks Investor Relations:
Thomas Schiller, 949-231-4700