Wavecom and Atmel Introduce Single-Chip GSM/GPRS Baseband Processor
First Product from Partnership
Issy-les-Moulineaux and Rousset, France -- May 06, 2003 -- Wavecom SA and Atmel Corporation today announced the release of a jointly-developed GSM/GPRS baseband processor. The processor is the first concrete result from a long-term technology partnership that has been established between Atmel and Wavecom, capitalising on Atmel's expertise as a pre-eminent designer and manufacturer of highly-complex systems-on-chip and Wavecom's leadership in the design and development of integrated wireless communications solutions. The partnership will encompass the development and manufacturing of leading-edge wireless communications solutions for 2.5G mobile communications and beyond.
The single-chip GSM/GPRS baseband processor is the first of a planned range of silicon hardware components that include Wavecom intellectual property, with the aim of improving the cost and performance of Wavecom's WISMO hardware platforms for wireless applications. The processor is already integrated into the latest generation of Wavecom's industry-leading WISMO Pac hardware platform, which is expected to go into mass production during the second quarter of this year.
The new broadband processor is optimised for Wavecom's protocol stack and offers Wavecom customers state of the art technology including a digital audio interface for efficient Bluetooth connectivity, USB and AMR features, and an interface for a second smart card for future mobile commerce applications. The device integrates high-performance analogue and digital circuitry into a system-on-a-chip fabricated in 0.18-micron CMOS technology, and gives significant advancements in terms of performance, integration and power consumption.
Philippe Guillemette, Wavecom's Chief Technology Officer, stated: "This is a significant milestone for Wavecom as an organisation - the partnership with Atmel marks a new step for the company, as we move into the silicon space. This processor is the first product of many which will enhance our available hardware offering. We believe that the processor will add significant value to our solutions and therefore to our customers. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Atmel as part of our overall strategy to bring wireless innovations to market quickly and efficiently."
Alfredo Vadillo, Atmel's Director for ASICs and ASSPs, commented: "Our partnership with Wavecom combines Atmel's position as a leading supplier of system-level IC solutions for mobile communications with Wavecom's expertise in wireless innovation to enable us to manufacture products that will greatly benefit the application development community. The baseband processor exploits our expertise in high-performance analogue on CMOS as well as our proven capability in system level integration, and opens the door to products that combine high performance with the smallest possible die size and lowest power consumption for 2.5G and beyond. We look forward to working with Wavecom to create great products for the future."
The processor joins Wavecom's existing range of hardware platforms, which form part of Wavecom's new Wireless Open Workshop. This combines a complete suite of software, hardware, development tools and services into market specific Development Labs to help customers bring their wireless solution quickly to operational status.
Atmel Corporation:
Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose, California with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also a leading provider of system-level integration semiconductor solutions using CMOS, BiCMOS, SiGe, and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies.
About Wavecom:
Founded in 1993 and headquartered near Paris in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Wavecom has subsidiaries in Hong Kong (PRC), Seoul (South Korea) and San Diego (USA). Company revenues totaled € 322.7 million in 2001 and € 551.1 million in 2002. Wavecom is publicly traded on Euronext Paris (Nouveau Marché) in France and on the NASDAQ National Market exchange in the U.S.