Siemens San Diego R&D Center Targets Next Generation Wireless Technology
Business Wire - October 20, 1998 13:48
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CUPERTINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 1998--Siemens Microelectronics Inc. (SMI) has opened a research and development center in San Diego chartered to develop CDMA baseband integrated circuit (IC) solutions. The center is part of Siemens' strategy to become a major player in 3rd generation Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.
Dr. Stash Czaja, Thomas Kenney and Dr. William Jones, who collectively have more than 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and in CDMA technology in particular, founded the center in January 1998.
Until now, Siemens' focus has been on Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Digital European Cordless Technology (DECT) standards. "The aim in launching the San Diego Center is to enable Siemens to move aggressively into CDMA, a technology that we believe will soon be the second most commonly used wireless telephony standard worldwide," said Dr. Leopold Bomer, the center's director.
In establishing the center, Siemens will leverage its extensive experience with GSM and DECT systems to speed development of CDMA solutions. Designers at the center will have access to a multitude of existing building blocks including: microcontrollers, DSP cores, memories and other blocks. The center also will benefit from Siemens' strong manufacturing technology and experience. CDMA devices will be manufactured at Siemens plants worldwide, starting using 0.25-micron technology and 18-micron technology.
Siemens believes the time is right to expand into CDMA since the market for wireless products based on the technology has accelerated this year and is ramping up to become a high-volume business. At the same time, the standardization bodies in the U.S. are preparing phased steps to become 3rd generation compliant. The development now underway will allow Siemens to become a major player in still evolving 3rd generation standards. As a global manufacturer, Siemens will be well positioned to take advantage of the move to 3rd generation CDMA technology.
The San Diego design center is one of numerous Siemens R&D facilities in the United States, Russia, Israel and France. Designers at the center will also be able to draw upon the expertise of SMI's RF Design Center in Princeton, N. J.. The CDMA center's staff is expected to grow from seven engineers today to 20 in 1999.
About Siemens
Siemens Microelectronics, Inc. (SMI), based in Cupertino, Calif. since 1969, offers one of the broadest product portfolios in the microelectronics industry, including communications ICs, microcontrollers, memory products, smart card ICs, wireless devices, radio frequency ICs and discretes, power ICs and transistors, and optoelectronics. Along with a breadth of products, SMI works from a strong manufacturing and technology base to provide system solutions with a special focus on the computer peripheral, communications, wireless, and automotive and industrial markets. SMI is a subsidiary of Siemens Corporation, N.Y., and is the North American affiliate of the Siemens Semiconductor Group, Munich, Germany, which had worldwide sales of approximately $3.5 billion in fiscal 1996/97. Information about SMI products can be found on the World Wide Web at: www.smi.siemens.com.
CONTACT: Siemens Microelectronics, Inc.
Anita Giani, 408/777-4546
anita.giani@smi.siemens.com
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