RFMD powers new Samsung 3G handsets

GREENSBORO, USA: RF Micro Devices Inc. announced it is supporting the ramp of Samsung's Tocco Ultra Edition and GT-S8000 "Jet" 3G handsets with two of its industry-leading 3G cellular front ends -- the RF3267 and RF6266. RFMD's high-efficiency and ultra-compact 3G front ends are designed to support the critical needs of multi-band, multimode 3G handsets and smartphones.

Samsung's Tocco Ultra Edition handset delivers a full-touch mobile experience and a revolutionary 2.8" super bright AMOLED display. The slim 12.7mm-wide design includes GPS navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, an MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA music player, an 8-mega pixel camera with auto focus and dual-power LED, an FM radio with RDS, 30fps VGA video recording and editing, microSD memory capability up to 16 GB and 7.2 Mbps HSDPA performance.

Samsung's GT-S8000 Jet handset features 3.6 Mbps HSDPA performance, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, a 5-mega pixel camera, an AMOLED full-touch WVGA display, 150MB of internal memory and microSD memory capability up to 16GB.

The Tocco Ultra Edition and GT-S8000 Jet are available today, and RFMD forecasts volume shipments of its RF3267 and RF6266 will increase throughout 2009 in support of these and other Samsung 3G handsets.

"We are very pleased to support these feature-rich and highly anticipated Samsung 3G handsets with our WCDMA/HSDPA front ends," said Eric Creviston, president of RFMD's cellular products group (CPG).

"Our RF3267 and RF6266 3G front ends deliver superior current consumption and higher levels of integration, versus competitive offerings, enabling leading smartphone manufacturers to deliver WCDMA/HSDPA devices with extended battery life and a rich, multimedia experience for consumers. RFMD has been very successful with these power amplifiers in support of Samsung's 3G handsets, and we expect to support additional Samsung 3G handsets launching later this year."

RFMD's RF3267 is a Band 1 (1920 to 1980 MHz) WCDMA/HSDPA power amplifier (PA) that provides an excellent balance of efficiency and linearity resulting in as much as 15 percent less peak current consumption and a digitally controlled low-power mode that allows the handset to operate with reduced current consumption across a broader power range than competing solutions -- translating into longer battery life in data-centric mobile devices.

Additionally, the RF3267 features an integrated coupler, which allows handset designers to eliminate the external coupler traditionally placed at the output of the PA. The additional functionality is achieved without growing the industry-leading 3x3x0.9 mm package, which matches RFMD's successful prior generation PA, the RF3266.

By maintaining pin-for-pin compatibility with the RF3266, the RF3267 assists handset original equipment manufacturers seeking to shrink RF sections in support of more compact and thinner devices.

RFMD's RF6266 WCDMA/HSDPA PA operates in either Band 5 (824 to 849 MHz) or Band 8 (880 to 915 MHz) and delivers a similar feature set to the RF3267, with the same ultra-compact 3x3x0.9 mm package. Used in combination, the RF3267 and RF6266 provide a compact solution for multi-band, multimode 3G handset designs targeting the North American and/or European Union (EU) markets.

RFMD is gaining share in 3G front ends and enjoys an advantage in 3G handset design activity, given its leading product portfolio, manufacturing scale, systems-level expertise and packaging and assembly capabilities -- all of which enable RFMD to minimize complexity, reduce component count and optimize the RF design of multi-band, multimode WCDMA/HSDPA handsets and smartphones.

ST-Ericsson highly integrated RF transceiver solution for 3G handsets

SINGAPORE: ST-Ericsson today announced mass production of its 3G multi-mode, multi-band Aero4228 RF transceiver, the industry’s first HSPA/EDGE transceiver to eliminate expensive external filter components typically required to complete the RF subsystem in mobile handset designs.

Delivering an exceptional combination of performance and integration, the Aero4228 is the only solution available in the market today that effectively removes both 3G TX and RX surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, while incorporating all low noise amplifiers (LNAs) on-chip. With the Aero4228, 3G mobile phone designers can sharply diminish the total bill of materials (BOM) and greatly reduce the cellular radio footprint in their handset designs.

“The Aero4228 stands as a testament to ST-Ericsson’s commitment to lead the industry by integrating more features and functionality into our cellular solutions in order to improve performance, reduce costs and shrink system size for our customers,” said Dan Rabinovitsj, General Manager for Cellular Systems at ST-Ericsson. “No other company has achieved a SAW-less, LNA-integrated 3G solution and we are proud to be first to market with this level of integration.”

Key features of Aero4228
* High integration, resulting in small transceiver footprint and low BOM.
* Manufactured in CMOS technology to leverage economies of scale in the highest volume process technology.
* All sensitive components, Tx/Rx VCOs, loop filters, tuning inductors and varactors integrated in CMOS silicon.
* Elimination of 3G SAW filters for transmit and receive reduces footprint and BOM.
* Integrated power management enables industry-leading power consumption.

This product includes licensed 3G technology from ACP Advanced Circuit Pursuit AG, Zollikon, Switzerland.