Tensilica Xtensa processor powers world's first digital broadcast-enabled mobile phone from LG Electronics.

Tensilica, Inc., the only company to automate the design of optimized application-specific configurable processors, has announced that LG Electronics has used the Xtensa configurable processor core to deliver the world's first mobile phone capable of receiving digital broadcast signals. Compatible with the "Terrestrial digital-multimedia-broadcast" (TDMB) system, a broadcast system currently being rolled out in Korea, the new mobile phone is powered by a sophisticated digital media processor which was designed using the Tensilica Xtensa processor core and design environment.

The new LG phone allows consumers to watch television programs, while using normal dialing functions simultaneously. Other mobile devices, such as PDAs, have featured broadcast capabilities, however, this is the first small form factor device to feature both broadcast capabilities as well as dialing functions. The new SOC can also be applied to notebook computers, PDAs and car terminals, speeding the adoption of the T-DMB standard.

"Mobile broadcasting is the next evolution in mobile product design, and should see tremendous growth in the coming year," stated Dr. Choon Lee, Vice President of LG. "By using the Xtensa processor and automated design environment, we were able to cut design time significantly and be first to market with this exciting new technology. Moreover, we are now well positioned to take the lead in the fast growing T-DMB market." Based on its experience with this first SOC, LG has also signed a second license for an Xtensa processor for their next-generation DMB-2 phone.

T-DMB broadcast services in Korea are expected to be rolled out in the first half of 2005. LG is working to establish the Korean TDMB standard as a global standard. Korea is believed to have a significant lead in the drive to bring mobile broadcasting to market.

"LG is leading the world in the development of this exciting T- DMB technology, and Tensilica is proud that our Xtensa processor played such a key role in their SOC design," stated Steve Roddy, Tensilica's vice president of marketing. "We look forward to working with them on their SOC for DMB-2."