CommQuest Technologies Inc. today introduced a tri-band Global System for Mobile communications chipset that will allow global roaming in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz frequency bands using one handset.
The two-chip product includes a single-chip Communication Application Specific Processor for baseband and intermediate frequency functions and a single-chip tri-band receiver. CASP architecture reduces the number of components in a handset from about 400 to 250, said the company.
In addition, CommQuest’s 1-bit sampling technology minimizes power consumption, allowing for more than eight days of standby time and 12 hours of talk time, said the company.
“I haven’t seen anything else like it as far as the tri-band ability,” said Allen Leibovitch, senior analyst, semiconductors, for International Data Corp.
Richard Sfeir, director of marketing at CommQuest, said the company chose to develop a GSM solution because of the technology’s leading worldwide position with more than 60 million customers in more than 110 countries. The company’s platform-independent technologies will work with other technologies, including Code Division Multiple Access technology. CommQuest said it expects to bring its first CDMA component to market in 1999.
Besides producing the chipset, CommQuest also offers a Total System Solution, which includes all components necessary to build a wireless handset, including radio-frequency functionality, baseband, integrated software and test support.
The company has Original Equipment Manufacturer development kits available, including the chipset, an evaluation board, a reference design, tri-band protocol software, reference application layer software, software customization tools and test utilities, full type-approval test plans and procedures and a comprehensive manufacturing test tool set. CommQuest said the kit allows second-tier manufacturers to bring products to market more quickly and more effectively compete with larger manufacturers.
“It’s really a shift of who is designing the phones from handset manufacturers to chip companies,” said Leibovitch. “Smaller manufacturers can more easily enter the cell phone business without having all the expertise.”
Founded in 1991, San Diego-based CommQuest started out producing satellite modems and chipsets for cellular, personal communications services and direct broadcast satellite applications. The company’s other products now include an analog cellular Advanced Mobile Phone Service/Total Access Communication System chipset.
