Azimuth Systems Announces Industry's First Power Consumption Tester for Mobile Wi-Fi Devices; Solution Enables Battery Life Tests for a Wide Variety of Mobile Platforms, Including Phones and Consumer Electronic Devices.

ACTON, Mass. -- Azimuth Systems Inc., the leading provider of Wi-Fi(R) engineering test equipment, today announced a test solution that enables semiconductor manufacturers, cellular phone vendors, service providers, consumer electronics vendors and PC manufacturers to accurately measure the power consumption of mobile devices. Azimuth's Wi-Fi Power Consumption Benchmark Suite allows design engineers to measure the power consumption during various Wi-Fi usage modes and to run profiles that can determine the impact of Wi-Fi connectivity on a device's battery life. The new suite runs on Azimuth's award winning W-Series platform and enables manufacturers to optimize product design and power consumption algorithms to help extend the battery life of mobile Wi-Fi devices.

Wi-Fi is being embedded into many battery-operated products, imposing additional power demands on their already strained batteries. Because battery life significantly impacts user satisfaction with these products, manufacturers must identify the factors that lead to battery drain. Although measuring power consumption is a relatively simple process, correlating its affect on battery life for Wi-Fi-enabled devices presents a challenge for most manufacturers. The reason is that mobile devices - especially those that include Wi-Fi capabilities - operate in a variety of states with variable power requirements.

"Wi-Fi adds important functionality to an increasing number of mobile devices, but Wi-Fi power consumption can dramatically reduce the product's battery life," said Allen Nogee, principal analyst for Wireless Technology at In-Stat Research. "By using a standard tool for measuring power consumption to optimize their Wi-Fi designs, manufacturers can deliver next generation solutions with the longest possible battery life."

The Azimuth power consumption tester is the first solution that can measure current and voltage in various operational states, allowing vendors to predict average power consumption over the life of a typical battery. The flexible tool enables users to create profiles to test the effects of various modes of operation - including off, Wi-Fi disabled, idle (associated or unassociated) and active - as well as different device configurations and traffic characteristics. The Azimuth test suite can be used to measure power consumption over a fixed time period, over the entire life of a battery, and as a device switches between usage modes or configurations.

"Battery life of mobile devices is often a key differentiator for product vendors and service providers," said Jeff Abramowitz, vice president of marketing at Azimuth Systems. "The Azimuth Wi-Fi Power Consumption Benchmark Suite is a breakthrough solution that enables engineers to optimize power consumption with a test approach that is flexible and repeatable."

The Wi-Fi Power Consumption Benchmark Suite is software that runs on the Azimuth W-Series test platform, which is currently used by more than 80 leading Wi-Fi vendors. The software can also run on Azimuth's voice handset test solution, the VTB-VHS, or can be delivered as part of a pre-packaged bundle specifically aimed at power consumption, the EDB-PCT. The new power consumption suite leverages Azimuth's unique testing approach, which provides unmatched repeatability, flexibility and automation for wireless data communications testing. The test solution utilizes Azimuth Director(TM) Test Executive software and device libraries for test automation and precise parameter control. RadioProof(TM) enclosures are used to ensure repeatability and Azimuth's patented SmartMotion(TM) technology emulates motion in a controlled environment. The company's Real2Real(TM) architecture enables validation of data for mobile clients against a variety of commercially available access points.

Availability

The Power Consumption Benchmark Suite software will be available in August and the W-Series platforms are available now.

About Azimuth Systems

Azimuth Systems is a leading provider of wireless data communications test solutions. Azimuth's products are used by the world's leading wireless semiconductor, system vendors and service providers to speed time-to-market and improve wireless product quality. Azimuth's standardized test solutions enable research, development, QA and marketing engineers to test the performance, conformance and certification of wireless devices and networks supporting data, voice and video applications. The company is based in Acton, Massachusetts and is backed by prestigious investors including Kodiak Venture Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners. Azimuth may be contacted at [phone] or at www.azimuthsystems.com.

Azimuth(R) is a registered trademark of Azimuth Systems and Director(TM), SmartMotion(TM), RadioProof(TM) and Real2Real(TM) are trademarks of Azimuth Systems. Wi-Fi(R) is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.