RF Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: RFMD), a leading provider of proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for wireless communications applications, today announced the commercial launch of its complete POLARIS 2™ TOTAL RADIO™ Module solution, which is comprised of a cellular transceiver module and a cellular transmit module for handsets operating on the GSM/GPRS and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. The performance, size and cost advantages of the POLARIS 2 TOTAL RADIO Module solution enable handset manufacturers to quickly and cost-effectively introduce smaller, more feature-rich handsets capable of delivering the advanced levels of functionality and services of today's high data-rate networks.
The highly integrated and size-reduced two-module implementation of RFMD's POLARIS 2 TOTAL RADIO Module solution is expected to capitalize rapidly on the commercial success of RFMD's three-placement POLARIS 2 TOTAL RADIO, which is the industry's highest-volume EDGE radio chipset. Commercial shipments of the POLARIS cellular transceiver module for EDGE commenced in the December 2005 quarter, and the complete POLARIS module solution is ramping now to an additional customer for multiple GPRS and EDGE handsets in 2006.
"POLARIS transceivers are the preferred RF solution in millions of handsets to date, and we anticipate continued success as multiple high-volume GPRS and EDGE handsets enabled by our best-of-breed transceivers are launched and ramp to volume in 2006 and 2007," said Eric Creviston, Corporate Vice President of Cellular Products at RFMD. "With its low component count, reduced size and advanced levels of integration, our POLARIS Module solution enables leading handset manufacturers to incorporate more advanced features into their high volume GPRS and EDGE handsets while also accelerating their products' time to market."
RFMD's POLARIS 2 TOTAL RADIO Module solution is a complete, two-placement radio consisting of transceiver and transmit modules designed to support up to four frequency bands while operating under the GSM, GPRS and EDGE air interface standards. Features and benefits of the POLARIS 2 TOTAL RADIO Module solution include the following:
Smallest form factor currently in volume production
Streamlined supply chain through a two-module (RF6026 and RF3178) complete radio implementation
Reduced time-to-market with Rx SAW filters and passive components integrated into the transceiver module (RF6026)
Optimized performance in the transmit module (RF3178) achieved through Optimum Technology Matching® - GaAs HBT power amplifier, GaAs pHEMT switch and CMOS controller
Ability to interface with a range of basebands through support of very low IF (VLIF) and zero IF (ZIF) receive architectures, and the availability of both analog and digital baseband interfaces
RFMD's POLARIS transceiver product portfolio is comprised of the POLARIS 1 transceiver chipset for GSM/GPRS handsets, the industry leading POLARIS 2 TOTAL RADIO transceiver chipset for GSM/GPRS/EDGE handsets and the highly integrated and size-reduced POLARIS 2 TOTAL RADIO Module solution for both GSM/GPRS and GSM/GPRS/EDGE handsets.