I'm sure Agilent will be ready when an I-POD like device inergrates the handsets and bypasses computer downloads. Look out Apple!
Agilent Technologies to Acquire Wavics, Leading Provider of Innovative Power Amplifiers for Mobile Handset Market
Thursday January 20, 7:58 pm ET
Integration of Wavics' Patented Technology Expected to Strengthen Agilent's Leadership in Power Amplifiers, Front-End Modules
PALO ALTO, Calif. & SEOUL, Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 20, 2005-- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A - News) and Wavics today announced an agreement for Agilent to acquire Wavics, a Korean-based designer and manufacturer of power amplifier modules for the worldwide mobile handset market. Wavics' patented technology is expected to strengthen Agilent's leadership in power amplifiers and front-end modules, and enable customers to design smaller handsets with more features and extended talk time.
The acquisition is subject to closing conditions, and financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Wavics' patented CoolPAM power amplifier technology significantly reduces battery power consumption and allows CDMA and W-CDMA handsets to run cooler. Agilent plans to combine this new power amplifier capability with its miniature FBAR (film bulk acoustic resonator) filters to create higher-performance CDMA and W-CDMA front-end modules. This will offer handset manufacturers a significant reduction in printed circuit board space.
"Together, Agilent and Wavics can offer customers a range of highly differentiated power amplifiers that far exceed competitive solutions," said Bryan Ingram, vice president and general manager of the Wireless Semiconductor Division in Agilent's Semiconductor Products Group. "Our mutual customers will benefit by being able to design smaller, thinner clamshell handsets with more features and talk time than previously available."
"Our two companies are an excellent fit," said Don Son, president of Wavics. "Wavics can leverage Agilent's global infrastructure, technology, manufacturing and reach, while Agilent can benefit from our unique patented power amplifier technology and strong customer relationships with major Asian handset manufacturers."
Wavics, founded in 2000 and privately held, operates two locations in Korea, one in Seoul and one in Ansan. Wavics employs approximately 55 people, who will continue their employment with the company. Wavics' customers include the leading handset manufacturers in Korea, Japan, China, Germany and the United States. During 2004, Wavics had more than 90 design wins that are expected to deliver in 2005.
Agilent is a major supplier to the top 10 worldwide handset manufacturers and offers one of the broadest mobile-phone component portfolios. In addition to E-pHEMT power amplifiers and FBAR filters that save battery life and help shrink handset size, Agilent provides CMOS imaging solutions that enable camera phones, infrared transceivers for transmitting data, surface-mount LEDs that provide backlighting styling options, proximity sensors that automate the speakerphone, and ambient-light photo sensors that save battery life by controlling backlighting. No other component vendor offers all of these solutions for mobile appliances.
About Wavics
Wavics is a fabless IC company based in Seoul, Korea. The company's unique CoolPAM technology is included in a line of power amplifiers that offer tremendous power savings for mobile standards such as CDMA, W-CDMA, EDGE and W-LAN. CoolPAM is used with linear modulation schemes resulting in less drain on the battery, which translates to longer talk times and additional power to drive other mobile phones features. Wavics was founded in December 2000 by a team of experienced RF professionals with Korean, U.S. and Japanese management experience. Additional information about Wavics and its products and services can be found at www.wavics.com.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A - News) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to completion of the transaction, expected benefits of the transaction, expected benefits for customers, our future plans and product offerings and future product capabilities, that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results of Agilent Technologies to differ materially from management's current expectations. These include the timing and successful completion of product development, integration issues, the risks that the acquisition cannot be completed successfully or that anticipated benefits are not realized and the ability to retain Wavics' employees and customers as well as the risks and uncertainties that are detailed in Agilent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Oct. 31, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Note to Editors: Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.
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