Financial Releases
RFMD(R) Unveils Software-Based GPS Solution for Mobile Devices; RFMD(R) GPS(TM) RF8110 Optimized to Leverage Industry Leading Family of Applications Processors
Until now, mass deployment of GPS in mobile devices has been hindered by the high cost and size of conventional hardware-based GPS implementations. The RFMD GPS RF8110 redefines the boundaries of cost, power and size - enabling accelerated, widespread adoption of GPS in cost-sensitive mobile devices.
The RFMD GPS RF8110 is a highly scalable and flexible solution, allowing it to be optimized for a wide variety of product platforms. The solution eliminates the need for a dedicated baseband ASIC by leveraging the available host processing power and memory resources in feature-rich smartphones, wireless PDAs and other consumer devices. The RFMD GPS RF8110 is based on a mixed-signal CMOS RFIC bundled with RFMD's proprietary core GPS software.
"RFMD is committed to providing leading-edge GPS solutions to enable integration into our customers' next-generation wireless mobile devices," said David Lyon, vice president of RFMD's Wireless Connectivity Business Unit. "Our initial target platform is Intel Corporation's XScale® processor, which is a leading applications processor in the smartphone and wireless PDA market segments. We have optimized our RFMD GPS RF8110 software for use on the Intel® XScale® family of applications processors, maximizing GPS performance yet minimizing the load on the applications processor."
"RFMD's mobile GPS solution is a step towards making personal navigation and location-awareness a desirable and must-have feature in mobile devices, and it leverages the Intel XScale® processor's capability to enable and support new and compelling applications," said Todd Altman, market development manager for Intel's Handheld Platforms Group. "The widespread adoption of GPS-based applications in mobile devices requires a platform approach that couples low power and high performance with robust application development. The combination of RFMD's cost-effective GPS solution with Intel's XScale® technology will allow mobile device manufacturers to create differentiated devices."
The RFMD GPS RF8110 is currently sampling to initial customers and will be in mass production in summer, 2006. RFMD will be showcasing its GPS products and other cellular solutions at 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 13-16, 2006, in Hall 8, Stand B16.
RFMD GPS RF8110 Benefits
As a software-based solution, the RFMD GPS RF8110 offers scalable performance depending on the required sensitivity, accuracy and end-user application. The solution supports push-to-fix, Location Based Services (LBS) applications as well as automotive and pedestrian navigation in outdoor and low signal strength environments. The RFMD GPS RF8110 reduces the total bill-of-materials (BOM) and leads to significant cost and size savings. In large volumes, the price of the RFMD GPS RF8110 RFIC bundled with core GPS software is approximately $3.00.
The hardware component of the solution is a mixed-signal RFIC built in 0.18 um CMOS technology for low power and small size. The RFIC has a hardware accelerator on-chip to offload the system's applications processor and to minimize the data transfer rate to the host CPU. Low power consumption is achieved through various hardware and software-controlled power save modes.
RFMD GPS RF8110 Software Features & Benefits
The RFMD GPS RF8110 software-based architecture allows for the straightforward addition of future functions, enhancements and customer-specific features on an as-needed basis. Designed to be used in "best-in-class" portable devices, this solution can be easily integrated into a variety of leading host platforms powered by ARM®-based applications processors like Intel's XScale® processor, Texas Instrument's OMAP, Freescale's i.MX and Samsung's S3C. It is operating system agnostic and supports a variety of mobile platforms including Linux, Windows® Mobile 5.0 and Symbian. The RFMD GPS RF8110 supports both autonomous as well as standards-based assisted modes of operation.
RFMD GPS RF8110 Evaluation Kits
To shorten customers' development cycle times, RFMD provides platform-specific hardware and software evaluation kits. Current development kits are based on the Intel PXA270 applications processor and the Windows® CE/Windows® Mobile 5.0 operating system. In addition, kits for Texas Instruments, Freescale and Samsung-based platforms will also be introduced.
About RF Micro Devices
RF Micro Devices, Inc., an ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified manufacturer, designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for wireless communications products and applications. The Company is a leading supplier of power amplifiers, one of the most critical radio frequency (RF) components in cellular phones. The Company is also the leading manufacturer of GaAs HBT, which offers distinct advantages over other technologies for the manufacture of current- and next-generation power amplifiers. The Company's products are included primarily in cellular phones, base stations, wireless local area networks (WLANs), cable television modems and global positioning systems (GPS). The Company derives revenue from the sale of standard and custom-designed products. The Company offers a broad array of products including amplifiers, mixers, modulators/demodulators and single-chip transmitters, Bluetooth® products and receivers and transceivers that represent a substantial majority of the RFICs required in wireless subscriber equipment. The Company's goal is to be the premier supplier of low-cost, high-performance integrated circuits and solutions for applications that enable wireless connectivity. RF Micro Devices, Inc. is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol RFMD. For more information about RFMD, please visit 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 rate of growth and development of wireless markets, risks associated with the operation of our wafer fabrication facilities, molecular beam epitaxy facility, our assembly facility and our test, tape and reel facilities, 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, dependence on consignment sales through customer inventory hubs, 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, dependence on third parties and the variability of future stock-based compensation charges or credits during the remainder of fiscal 2006 as a result of our stock option exchange program as well as the adoption of SFAS 123® in fiscal 2007. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in RF Micro Devices' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K 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.
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CONTACT: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
Jerry Neal or Doug DeLieto, 336-664-1233
SOURCE: RF Micro Devices