Entry Into New Market Leverages RFMD's 3G Leadership, GaAs Manufacturing Expertise and Switch and Filter Integration Capabilities
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb 18, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq GS: RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components, today announced the Company's entry into the market for cellular switch filter modules. RFMD's first available switch filter modules (SFMs), the RF1194 and the RF1195, are designed for use in multi-band, multimode 3G handsets. Both SFMs leverage RFMD's leadership in 3G front ends, as well as RFMD's proven GaAs manufacturing expertise, high volume cellular switch technology and filter integration capabilities demonstrated in RFMD's POLARIS(R) radio solutions.
Bob Bruggeworth, president and CEO of RFMD, said, "RFMD's entry into the cellular switch filter module market supports our ongoing diversification efforts and leverages many of our core competitive strengths. RFMD(R) has shipped hundreds of millions of transmit modules featuring our industry leading GaAs pHEMT technology, and we have integrated hundreds of millions of filters into our POLARIS(R) radios solutions. We expect meaningful growth in the SFM segment this year as our new products lower costs, reduce form factors, improve system performance and ease the implementation of complex 3G front end applications."
The RF1194 integrates a single-pole nine throw (SP9T) pHEMT switch, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE transmit low-pass filtering (LPF) and four GSM/GPRS/EDGE receive (Rx) surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, for implementation in a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, triple-band WCDMA/HSPA+ 3G multimode handset. With four symmetrical GSM/GPRS/EDGE Rx ports and three symmetrical, high-linearity WCDMA/HSPA+ Tx/Rx ports, the RF1194 simplifies the design of 3G multimode devices by providing a flexible, platform-capable front end solution. The RF1195 integrates a single-pole ten throw (SP10T) pHEMT switch and builds upon the advantages of the RF1194's architecture by providing an additional high-linearity port for a total of four symmetrical WCDMA/HSPA+ Tx/Rx ports.
Technical features of the RF1194 and RF1195 include:
-- Pin-to-pin compatible, compact packages: 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.2 mm
-- Best-in-class ESD protection; 8 kV CD compliance through integrated ESD inductor
-- Symmetrical GSM/GPRS/EDGE Rx ports with low insertion loss
-- Symmetrical, high-linearity WCDMA/HSPA+ Tx/Rx ports
-- Enhanced VSWR performance
Availability and Pricing
Samples of the RF1194 and the RF1195 are available immediately. Based upon current design activity, RFMD anticipates first revenue in the fourth quarter of calendar 2009. Pricing is available upon request by contacting an RFMD sales representative or by visiting www.rfmd.com/purchase.
RFMD's 3G Multi-band, Multimode Front End Portfolio
RFMD delivers a broad portfolio of high-performance front ends and components to address the increasingly complex challenges faced by 3G multi-band, multi-mode mobile device manufactures and platform providers. Product offerings include GSM/EDGE power amplifiers and transmit modules, WCDMA/HSPA+ power amplifiers and transmit platforms, front end power management integrated circuits (ICs), and high-linearity, low insertion loss discrete switches, antenna switch modules, and switch filter modules.
RFMD's product portfolio will be on display at the 2009 GSMA Mobile World Congress February 16 to February 19 in Hall 8, Stand 8B79.
