News
Issue #2003 - 26 (October 2003)
(Updated Oct. 1, 2003)

MARKET OUTLOOK & TRENDS

Chip Vendors Encourage Wi-Fi in Smaller Devices

Source: PMN of UK

Leading silicon vendors such as TI and Broadcom have recently announced the integration of Wi-Fi into their chipsets for mobile handsets, raising the possibility of widespread deployment of the local area wireless technology in phones. To-date most Wi-Fi chips have required too much power or physical footprint to be effectively integrated into mobile handsets. 

TI's offering, the TNETW1230 is a single-chip 802.11a/b/g access controller, which can be easily combined with the vendor's OMAP processors, GSM, GPRS, CDMA and even Bluetooth modules. TI claims that by supporting 802.11g, which provides higher throughput than the 802.11b commonly used by laptops, its chipset uses up to three times less power than existing solutions. 

TI says the TNETW1230 has already been chosen for several unannounced products and a dual cellular/Wi-Fi handset previously shown by Motorola. 

Broadcom has also announced its BCM4317 AirForce One, a single chip solution supporting 802.11b and designed for inclusion in cellular and other mobile products. 

Intel, which has recently updated developers at its annual conference on its strategy, is yet to announce how it intends to extend its Centrino strategy into the cellular space. The company has rapidly achieved a leadership position in Wi-Fi chipsets in the notebook market through a high profile marketing campaign for its Centrino integrated processors. It is expected to announce over the next few months how Wi-Fi technology will be integrated into the ARM-based chips it offers to cellular handset manufacturers. 

Source: PMN of UK

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: We do expect Wi-Fi to get into high end handsets. There is a breed on voice-capable telephones emerging e.g. from Cisco. This market is there but up for grabs - shape and foot print. Outlook is clearer at the chip level but not at the end user device level or its network support for Wi-Fi WLANS alone, for cellular plus Wi-Fi networks or a super handsets that can be used anywhere, including the fixed line network..  

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