SAMSUNG ACHIEVES FTA CERTIFICATION WITH SILICON'S AERO.

Silicon Laboratories Inc. (Nasdaq:SLAB), Austin, Texas, has announced that Samsung Electronics has achieved full type approval (FTA) certification with Samsung's first handset model using Silicon Labs' Aero(tm) GSM transceiver. The Aero transceiver is the industry's first 100% CMOS RF front end for GSM handsets. Samsung chose the Aero transceiver due to its ease of use, unparalleled integration and superior performance. By using the Aero, Samsung reduced RF circuit board space by over 50 percent and component count by over 66 percent compared to the previous transceiver solution.

"Silicon Laboratories' CMOS RF technology has had a dramatic impact on Samsung's cellular handsets," said J.K Shin, director of Samsung's Information and Communication Business in the Wireless Terminal Division. "The Aero transceiver has enabled us to meet aggressive size, cost, performance, and time-to-market objectives for our full range of new handsets for GSM and GSM/GPRS applications."

"Silicon Labs has a strong relationship with Samsung based on Samsung's success with our RF synthesizers," said Ed Healy, vice president and general manager of the Wireless Division at Silicon Laboratories. "We are pleased to extend that relationship into the domain of the transceiver so that Samsung can leverage the advantages of our patented RF technology. Achieving FTA certification with Aero in less than three months after sampling our production silicon validates the performance of the solution and the efficiency of Samsung's design organization."

All cellular handsets are required to pass FTA prior to being released on the market to ensure conformance to stringent cellular standards. Achieving FTA is a significant milestone that allows a manufacturer to begin volume production of a new wireless handset or terminal.

The Aero GSM transceiver provides a complete RF front-end for dual and triple band GSM digital cellular handsets in 100% CMOS process technology. The highly compact solution integrates the IF SAW filter, external low noise amplifiers (LNA) for three bands, transmit and RF voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) modules and many of the remaining discrete components found in conventional GSM handset designs including loop filters and tank components. The Aero transceiver is compliant with General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) Class 12 and downlink EDGE requirements, supporting high data rate communications for Internet-enabled wireless terminals.

Silicon Labs also offers a full family of synthesizer products based on its patented CMOS RF technology, including solutions for 802.11b and W-CDMA or "3G" applications as well as a wide range of derivative products providing a selection of different frequency plans.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, and digital convergence technology. Samsung Electronics employs approximately 64,000 people in 89 offices in 47 countries. The company is the world's largest producer of memory chips, TFT-LCDs, CDMA mobile phones, monitors and VCRs. Samsung Electronics consists of four main business units: Digital Media Network, Device Solution Network, Telecommunication Network and Digital Appliance Network Businesses.

About Silicon Laboratories

Silicon Laboratories Inc. designs, manufactures and markets proprietary high-performance mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs) for a broad range of communications markets. Silicon Laboratories is an ISO9001-certified manufacturer and has applied for over 125 patents on its mixed-signal technology. Silicon Labs was incorporated in 1996 and is based in Austin, Texas.

For more information, visit http://www.silabs.com or call 1-877-411-SLAB or 512/428-1535.

Print Get the Mag Weekly Updates