BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components, today introduced the RF6460, RFMD's most highly integrated and scalable 3G/4G cellular front end platform. The RF6460 front end platform features an ultra-compact "converged" multi-band, multimode architecture (2G/2.5G/3G/4G) that delivers best-in-class efficiency, eases implementation, shrinks solution size and reduces component placements, versus mode-specific and band-specific architectures. The RF6460 is also the industry's only converged architecture capable of supporting up to nine cellular bands. As a result, the RF6460 simplifies the design, reduces the cost and accelerates the implementation of 3G and 4G multimode mobile devices.

The RF6460 converged front end platform is comprised of the RF6260 multi-band, multimode power amplifier (PA) module, the RF6360 antenna switch module (ASM) and the RF6560 front end power management integrated circuit (IC). With the broadband, multimode characteristics of the RF6260 PA and the flexibility of the RF6560 power management IC, the RF6460 converged front end platform delivers a scalable front end solution that simultaneously supports the implementation of up to five WCDMA/HSPA+/LTE bands -- three high bands and two low bands -- and all four bands of GSM/GPRS/EDGE in 3G/4G multimode mobile devices. Mobile device manufacturers can implement the majority of 3G/4G band and mode combinations simply by selecting the appropriate band-specific duplexers to place with the RF6460. The RF6460 converged front end platform supports all major air interface standards in multimode devices, including GSM/GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, TD-SCDMA (3G), WCDMA/HSPA+ (3G), and LTE (4G).

Eric Creviston, president of RFMD's Cellular Products Group (CPG), said, "RFMD's RF6460 converged front end platform streamlines the design of 3G/4G multimode handset platforms by shrinking the solution size, reducing overall component count and optimizing efficiency for all modes and power levels. This enables platform providers and phone manufacturers to accelerate time-to-market of next-generation 3G and 4G multimode devices that can deliver greater talk times at lower costs and in smaller form factors."

RFMD's RF6460 platform utilizes two quadrature (or "balanced") amplification paths -- one low-band and one high-band -- capable of operating in bands 1-6 and 8-10 while in WCDMA/HSPA+/LTE mode. The RF6460 platform also optimizes PA efficiency and linearity according to the needs of each mode of operation and utilizes patent-pending DC-DC conversion technology to intelligently and dynamically control PA operating conditions. In doing so, the RF6460 platform maximizes efficiency across power levels, across data rates (voice-only to LTE) and during non-ideal load conditions (also known as "antenna mismatch") by responding quickly to load and line transients. This helps extend battery life and significantly reduces average thermal dissipation, both of which are critical metrics to 3G/4G handset manufacturers.

Industry-Leading 3G PA Technology

RFMD's broad 3G front end portfolio features innovative products and product families capable of accommodating all major 3G RF architectures, including existing mode-specific/band-specific and mode-specific/multi-band architectures as well as emerging multimode/multi-band "converged" architectures.

RFMD's mode-specific/band-specific offerings, such as the RF720x product family, deliver low cost in single-band 3G implementations and design flexibility in multi-band 3G applications. RFMD's mode-specific/multi-band offerings leverage RFMD's proven quadrature (or "balanced") PA technology and include the RF6280 3G transmit system as well as the RF9372 (single path), RF3278 (dual path) and RF6278 (triple path) broadband PAs. RFMD's quadrature PAs enhance multi-band platform capability and improve immunity to VSWR ("antenna mismatch").

RFMD's revolutionary multimode/multi-band converged offerings include the RF6460 front end platform, which leverages RFMD's high-volume quadrature PA technology to deliver the industry's broadest band coverage (Band 1-6, 8-10) from a single, scalable front end platform. RFMD's converged front end platforms enable the smallest size and lowest cost implementation for multi-band smartphones (and other mobile devices, such as data cards), while supporting all air standards--GSM/GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, TD-SCDMA (3G), WCDMA/HSPA+ (3G), and LTE (4G).

Availability

RFMD is currently sampling lead customers and platform providers. RFMD expects broad market availability in the second half of calendar year 2009.

RFMD's product portfolio will be on display at the 2009 GSMA Mobile World Congress February 16 to February 19 in Hall 8, Stand 8B79.

About RFMD

RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq GS: RFMD) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components. RFMD's products enable worldwide mobility, provide enhanced connectivity and support advanced functionality in the cellular handset, wireless infrastructure, wireless local area network (WLAN), CATV/broadband and aerospace and defense markets. RFMD is recognized for its diverse portfolio of semiconductor technologies and RF systems expertise and is a preferred supplier to the world's leading mobile device, customer premises and communications equipment providers.

Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., RFMD is an ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified manufacturer with worldwide engineering, design, sales and service facilities. RFMD is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RFMD. For more information, please visit RFMD's web site at www.rfmd.com.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations and contentions and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should be aware that the forward-looking statements included herein represent management's current judgment and expectations, but our actual results, events and performance could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements or publicly announce the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, other than as is required under the federal securities laws. RF Micro Devices' business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including variability in quarterly operating results, the impact of global macroeconomic and credit conditions on our business, the rate of growth and development of wireless markets, risks associated with our planned exit from our wireless systems business, including cellular transceivers and GPS solutions, the risk that restructuring charges may be greater than originally anticipated and that the cost savings and other benefits from the restructuring may not be achieved, the risk that the actual amount and impact of the non-cash impairment charges may vary from estimates, risks associated with the operation of our wafer fabrication facilities, molecular beam epitaxy facility, assembly facility and test and tape and reel facilities, our ability to complete acquisitions and integrate acquired companies, including the risk that we may not realize expected synergies from our business combinations, our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and develop leaders, variability in production yields, our ability to reduce costs and improve gross margins by implementing innovative technologies, our ability to bring new products to market, our ability to adjust production capacity in a timely fashion in response to changes in demand for our products, dependence on a limited number of customers, and dependence on third parties. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in RF Micro Devices' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.

RF MICRO DEVICES^® and RFMD^® and POLARIS^® are trademarks of RFMD, LLC. All other trade names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE  RF Micro Devices, Inc.

    -0-                           02/16/2009
    /CONTACT:  Doug DeLieto, VP, Investor Relations, +1-336-678-7968, or Jerry
Neal, Executive Vice President, +1-336-678-7001, both of RFMD/
    /Web Site:  http://www.rfmd.com /
    (RFMD)

CO:  RF Micro Devices, Inc.; GSMA Mobile World Congress


ST:  North Carolina, Spain
IN:  TEQ TLS CPR HRD ECP
SU:  TDS PDT

PR
-- NY71128 --
1128 02/16/2009 01:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com