Analog Devices Brings Advanced Multimedia Functions to EDGE and GSM/GPRS Cellular Handsets.

NORWOOD, Mass. -- New SoftFone baseband chipset supports 3.0-megapixel camera integration, offers largest library of ringtones, and eliminates the need for a co-processor.

Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI), a global leader in semiconductors used in signal processing applications, today announced the availability of a new high-end multimedia baseband processor enabling advanced audio and video functions in EDGE and GSM/GPRS cellular phones. The new SoftFone(R) chipset consists of the AD6900 digital baseband processor and the AD6855 analog baseband processor, which together offer cutting-edge features such as industry-leading 3.0-megapixel camera support, USB On-the-Go, 128-voice MIDI ringtones and full-duplex speakerphone capability, without requiring a separate applications co-processor.

The chipset is based on Analog Devices' award-winning RAM-based SoftFone architecture, which for the past 6 years has provided handset designers with unparalleled levels of flexibility, power savings and performance. Driven by the success and market acceptance of the SoftFone architecture, SoftFone devices are found in GSM/GPRS/EDGE mobile phones from dozens of manufacturers on networks around the world.

"Today's announcement clearly illustrates the flexibility of our SoftFone platform to quickly and cost-effectively address the needs of the fast-paced wireless handset market," said Christian Kermarrec, vice president, RF and wireless systems, Analog Devices, Inc. "The software-based approach inherent in SoftFone allows our customers to design multiple families of products using a single development platform and customizing features and functionality simply by software."

"The use of the Blackfin Processor for both multimedia and communications processing in the SoftFone AD6900 makes great sense, given the Blackfin's ability to do video processing efficiently with low power, eliminating the need for an additional applications processor for MPEG-4 encode/decode functions," said Will Strauss, president, Forward Concepts.

The SoftFone AD6900 (LeMans) multimedia baseband processor utilizes the power of Analog Devices' Blackfin(R) Processor and ARM926EJ-S both running at 260 MHz to perform both the communications and audio/video signal processing tasks in a media-rich handset. The capabilities of the Blackfin Processor enable the multimedia video processing to be performed without the use of a co-processor, thereby significantly lowering bill of materials cost and power consumption. The AD6900 can support video algorithms such as MPEG4, H.263 and H.264 for screen sizes up to QVGA; stereo audio codecs including MP3, AAC+, WMA and others; and it offers 128-voice MIDI ringtones - all handled in software. The processor also includes built-in support for up to 3.0-megapixel resolution cameras. For easy transfer and uploading of pictures and music, or access to external storage and printing capabilities, the AD6900 supports USB On-the-Go, whereby the handset can act as a host or client device. The AD6900 provides "boot-from-NAND" capability, and has been validated for compatibility with state-of-the-art flash memory devices including the recently announced M18 series from Intel and OneNAND from Samsung.

The companion AD6855 IC (Stratos-S) handles the analog processing requirements of the new multimedia SoftFone chipset. The AD6855 provides all of the analog and power management functions including baseband radio interface, voiceband and stereo D/A conversion, and voltage regulation. The dynamic power management feature included in the SoftFone multimedia chipset controls the frequency and core voltage of the processor depending on the processing power being utilized, thereby extending battery life. The high-performance analog audio subsystem supports multiple sampling rates of stereo audio for music playback, as well as concurrent audio streams and full-duplex speakerphone operation with more than 25% increase in output volume than previous-generation devices, resulting in better speakerphone volume and clarity.

Analog Devices offers a choice of its award-winning Othello(R) transceivers for use with the new SoftFone chipset. The AD6546 Othello-E transceiver uses a closed-loop polar modulation transmitter and direct conversion receiver for EDGE/GPRS networks, and the AD6548 Othello-G transceiver supports GPRS operation with a low-cost, small PCB-area solution.

Availability

The SoftFone AD6900/AD6855 SoftFone multimedia baseband chipset is available now. Please contact Analog Devices for pricing information.

About Analog Devices in Wireless Handsets

As a leading supplier of components to the GSM industry since 1990, Analog Devices has built a portfolio of solutions for mobile devices that leverages high-performance analog and DSP core technology. As customer needs have evolved, ADI's wireless terminal product portfolio has advanced from DSP and analog building-block components to highly integrated chipsets and turnkey reference designs. Included in the company's vast array of technologies for wireless terminals are sophisticated digital baseband processors, advanced analog and mixed-signal data conversion, power management, lens drivers, analog interface ICs, radio frequency ICs, RF power detectors and iMEMS-based motion sensors. These products include a number of industry firsts, such as the Othello family--the world's first open-market direct-conversion radio chipset; and Analog Devices' SoftFone platform, the first RAM-based digital baseband processor, which enables wireless terminal device manufacturers to easily customize user features and options entirely in software, while incorporating breakthrough advancements in power consumption, cost and size. Analog Devices' wireless chipsets leverage the company's high-performance signal processing expertise and are designed with a unique systems understanding approach.

About Analog Devices, Inc.

Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pillars on which Analog Devices has built one of the longest-standing, highest-growth companies within the technology sector. Acknowledged industry-wide as the world leader in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, Analog Devices serves over 60,000 customers, representing virtually all types of electronic equipment. Celebrating 40 years as a leading global manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications, Analog Devices is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, with design and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Analog Devices' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "ADI" and is included in the S&P 500 Index. www.analog.com.

Blackfin, Othello and SoftFone are registered trademarks of Analog Devices, Inc. All other trademarks included herein are the property of their respective owners.