Agilent Technologies Inc. and Beceem Communications have announced that they have signed an agreement to develop high-speed manufacturing test solutions for mobile WiMAX devices based on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard.

Agilent will initially develop a new test system based on the MXA Signal Analyzer and MXG Signal Generator for WiMAX, and Agilent's test executive and control software. This test system will be optimized to directly control Beceem's MS120 baseband and RF chipset and the WiMAX modem software, thus enabling the highest possible measurement throughput. Beceem will certify Agilent's test systems for use by manufacturers that are developing mobile WiMAX products based on the MS120 chipset.

"We are truly excited to be working so closely with Beceem," said Pat Byrne, president of Agilent's Electronic Measurement Group. "Beceem is a leading chipset vendor in mobile WiMAX, and is in a first-mover market position with shipping well-qualified chipsets and reference designs for this rapidly growing industry."

"Agilent is a leader in test equipment for CDMA, GSM and WCDMA, and it's our pleasure to work with them to accelerate the mobile WiMAX market," said Babu Mandava, president of Beceem Communications. "Solutions like Agilent's are critical for enabling OEMs and ODMs to develop and test their WiMAX products, both in their labs and in production."

Information about Agilent's WiMAX test solutions is available at www.agilent.com/find/wimax.

Beceem Communications Inc. was founded in October 2003 with the goal of building a wireless technology company offering semiconductor solutions for the wireless broadband market. Beceem is the leading supplier of chipsets for the recently ratified, IEEE 802.16e standard on which Mobile WiMAX is based. The company's solutions target both base station and subscriber terminal applications. For more information, visit www.agilent.com.