if Spinco does in fact get the GSM x-licenses why indeed could there not be a 1x CDMA/GSM chip by next summer or sooner.
Here's why not.
1. x-license buys the right to us the technology once it is created. One has to create the
technology first.
2. Good CDMA RF engineers don't transition into good GSM engineers overnight.
They should be in shape with prototypes by next summer.
3. Even if the RF side is sorted - I know the software side isn't. A multimode chipset
will need 4 (arguably 5) major components
a) Access substrata
QCOM/SpinCo are historically good at this
b) The network substrata
This is pure GSM - SpinCo would be nuts to try to write this from scratch, and they
wont. QCOM has been touring the UK in an acquisition hunt. They don't have a deal
with anyone (yet)
c) Application programmers interface.
The API shields the handset software chaps (the MMI developers) from the
complexities of the protocol.
This is a weak area for QCOM, who made a dogs dinner out of this component for
IS-95. A GSM API is much more complex.
d) GSM Call Control state machine.
This component could either form part of the MMI or the API. In my experience, most
GSM chipset vendors don't supply this component, but nearly all Handset OEM's,
particularly those in Taiwan (and the putative ones in China) want the chipset guys to
supply it.
By the time WCDMA gets to market, I think this will be offered as part of the ASIC
software
e) Reference design for an MMI
A bigger job than you think, bu could be outsourced.
a) .. e) if written from scratch, would take 100+ software guys two years to get into a
state fit for type approval.
b) realistically requires a partnership deal with a stack vendor, who could also help
with c) and d)
After the software is written and integrated on chip, then
the ASIC's have to be type approved. The process from start to finish typically takes 9
months. If SpinCo was working with a partnership company like TTP, it could be done
quite a bit quicker.
Presumably there will be a lead customer at this point, and a lengthy series of field trials
will start. These can last anywhere from 3 months to a year, then you can start serious
production. |
