Headline: Yozan and VLSI to Develop a Next Generation 3G Baseband IC for Mobile
Communication
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SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 1999--Yozan Inc. and
VLSI Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VLSI) today announced an agreement for
the joint development of a W-CDMA baseband integrated circuit (IC) for
the next generation 3G mobile communication system.
The agreement enables the integration of both companies'
technology to quickly develop and produce in mass quantity a long
awaited, single chip baseband IC. The baseband IC will be developed
using the technology jointly developed between Yozan and NTT DoCoMo,
VLSI's advanced technologies and the strong partnership between Yozan
and VLSI.
Quick Time-to-Market
The new single-chip baseband IC will be developed on VLSI's
Velocity(TM) Standard Communication Platform(TM) (SCP(TM)), a
universal wireless development environment that can combine multiple
standards and is used to speed the design and development the circuit
and the software. Velocity SCP enables rapid design by allowing
developers to re-use (design re-use) existing circuits and the IP
blocks. With this methodology, mobile phone terminal manufacturers
will be able to introduce products carrying the new baseband IC well
before NTT DoCoMo introduces the W-CDMA service.
Market Adaptation of the New Standard
Yozan will supply a chip-set combining the matched filter and
rake receiver technologies for W-CDMA, which will contribute to the
immediate adaptation of the new standard in the market. VLSI will
supply world standard baseband ICs for W-CDMA. This is the third
generation in mobile communication system worldwide as a consequence
of GSM and CDMA systems, and accelerates the worldwide diffusion of
the new standard.
The Third Generation Mobile Phone Meets Multimedia Requirements
NTT DoCoMo has announced that it will begin providing service for
mobile communications 3G Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access
(W-CDMA) in 2001. W-CDMA allows the transfer of both voice and high
data rates. By using this technology, video telephones as well as high
speed internet access from mobile terminals will become commonplace.
This standard is being reviewed by International Telecommunications
Union (ITU) as a next generation worldwide standard (3G/IMT-2000) for
mobile communication systems.
Required High Level Technology for W-CDMA
The W-CDMA system requires a high level of multiplexing
communication technology, such as code spread and turbo coding for
high performance data transfer at the rate of 384 K bits per second,
as well as digital signal processing technology that converts audio to
digital data by using digital compressor and expander. Furthermore,
this technology is necessary to integrate a high performance
microcomputer, which controls the communication protocol and various
applications, and high character mixed signal circuits onto one chip.
This chip must operate with very low power consumption since mobile
telephone terminals need to be able to run for longer times both in
stand-by and communication mode.
About Yozan
Yozan is a specialized IC developer focusing on key devices for
the next generation communication system and has strong relationships
with worldwide top-tier companies in multimedia communication
industries. The research staff members hold either doctorate degrees
or masters degrees from universities in Japan and overseas, and engage
in development activities. Moreover, Yozan values the fulfillment of
the research equipment. Therefore, the process, including all the
steps from the research of the basic element through the IC layout, is
completely done by Yozan's staff in-house. As a result of these
developmental activities, the creation of the extremely low power
consumption mixed signal element was achieved and Yozan has gained
competitive strength in the market of the mass capacity communication
IC design segment. The research and verified prototype of the new
element, which reaches an accumulated investment of several billion
yen, created numerous patents related to multimedia, wireless and
fixed consumption power. In 1994, Yozan devoted itself to the
development of key devices for the mobile telephone and began to focus
on the next generation mobile communication system standard, W-CDMA,
which was promoted by NTT DoCoMo. As a result, in 1996, Yozan
established its technology basis in commercialization due to the
development of the fast data transfer matched filters for CDMA which
ITU recommended. Also, as a result of receiving a large amount of
capital from both domestic and foreign funds, Yozan has been
continuously investing significant amounts in R&D. The company is
based in Setagaya, Tokyo, with approximately 60 employees. For more
information, visit the Yozan homepage, iijnet.or.jp.
About VLSI Technology
VLSI Technology, Inc. designs and manufactures custom and
semicustom integrated circuits for leading firms in the wireless
communications, networking, consumer digital entertainment and
computing markets. VLSI's value proposition is based on full-service
customer support, deep libraries of vertical market-focused IC
intellectual property, unparalleled custom circuit design expertise
enabled through the Velocity Rapid Silicon Prototyping design style,
and one of the world's most flexible and efficient custom circuit
manufacturing facilities. The company is based in San Jose, California
with 1998 revenues from continuing operations of $547.8 million, and
approximately 2,200 employees worldwide. For more information, visit
the VLSI homepage, vlsi.com.
Velocity and Standard Communication Platform are registered
trademarks of VLSI Technology, Inc. All other trademarks and
registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
CONTACT: VLSI Technology
Earle Speranza, PR Manager, 408/922-5268
earle.speranza@vlsi.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED TELECOMMUNICATIONS
PRODUCT
KEY: VLSIFX
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