Skyworks Enters High-Growth BAW Filter Market; Uniquely Positions Company to Integrate Key Building Block with RFICs, Switches, Power Amplifiers and World-Class Packaging
WOBURN, Mass., Apr 26, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWKS), a global leader in analog, mixed signal and digital semiconductors for mobile communications applications, today announced the addition of high-performance Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) devices to its innovative and diverse technology portfolio. BAW devices are integral components of radio frequency architectures. Given their particular combination of small footprint, low profile and high performance, they are extremely valuable in enabling next-generation wireless products, particularly cellular handsets, which increasingly require greater multimedia functionality and reduced form factors.
"We estimate that in 2004 the mobile phone market consumed approximately 2.3 billion filters, of which roughly 65 million units were BAW-based. However, given the performance, size and manufacturing benefits of BAW devices, we expect a significant portion of the overall filter market to migrate to BAW solutions in the coming years, representing a substantial growth opportunity," said Mark Christensen, principal consultant of Prismark Partners.
"Expanding Skyworks' portfolio to include BAW filters and duplexers is the logical next step as we continue to push the envelope of RF integration," said Stan A. Swearingen, vice president and general manager of Skyworks' Linear Products business. "Skyworks will be an attractive one-stop source to handset manufacturers who require RF solutions which reduce component cost, count and size, particularly as they transition to 3G technologies. When combined with our industry-leading switches, power amplifiers, front-end modules and transceivers, our in-house BAW capability allows us to uniquely offer our customers the solutions they need to support a wide array of air interfaces and system architectures. This market strategy also reflects our commitment to developing higher-margin products supporting a myriad of wireless applications."
Prototypes of Skyworks' BAW devices will be available for sampling in the summer of 2005, with plans to first incorporate them in an RF solution targeted for cellular handsets.
As part of its strategic investment, Skyworks recently completed a licensing agreement and technology transfer with Agere Systems for its thin film resonator expertise, in addition to adding key technologists to its team. This capability was initially developed at Bell Laboratories and transferred to Agere during its spin-off from Lucent Technologies.
About BAW Filters and Their Advantages
Filters are the first line of defense against interference at the front-end of all radios, as they block unwanted frequencies when a defined frequency bandpass is transmitted. As an increasing number of communication systems use higher frequency bands, filters have become more important in ensuring that systems with close frequency bands do not interfere with each other. As a result, filters must have bandpass characteristics that match the various carrier frequencies and handle the maximum RF power levels transmitted by a phone.
Today, there are a variety of technologies available for RF filtering, including ceramic, lumped element, surface acoustic wave (SAW) and BAW filters. Ceramic filters, however, are too large for portable terminals, and lumped element filters are too lossy to be used in high-performance systems.
BAW RF filters are ideal for applications like mobile phones, as they are small and offer high performance when converting electrical energy into mechanical energy and actually performing the frequency selection (by prescribing how the filter structure vibrates at frequencies above a billion cycles per second).
BAW technology is the best choice for the market Skyworks serves today and in the future. BAW filters can be built to have less than one-third the footprint and less than half the height of equivalent SAW filters, which are difficult to manufacture at high frequencies. In addition, BAW filters can handle higher power, are less sensitive to surface contamination, have better frequency stability, and are more robust against failure during ESD or mismatched RF conditions. When compared to Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator (FBAR) filters made as a freestanding membrane, solidly mounted BAW filters fabricated on specially designed acoustic mirrors can offer improved power handling and easier integration into the flow of the fabrication process.
About Skyworks
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is a global leader in analog, mixed signal and digital semiconductors for mobile communications applications. The company's power amplifiers, front-end modules, direct conversion transceivers and complete system solutions are at the heart of many of today's leading-edge multimedia handsets, cellular base stations and wireless networking platforms. Skyworks also offers a portfolio of highly innovative linear products, supporting a diverse set of automotive, broadband, industrial and medical customers.
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 the 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 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.
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.
SOURCE: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
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