Ericsson and Texas Instruments Inc. will form a strategic technology engagement to develop custom solutions for new Open OS enabled 3G devices. Solutions from the technology created by the two companies will combine small and power efficient 3G modems from Ericsson Mobile Platforms with high-performance OMAPTM applications processors from TI. Solutions from the joint engagement will include OMAP, custom basebands and connectivity technologies and will be capable of supporting the major Open OS, which offer easy access to a rich array of applications and services. The result of this joint effort will enable all device manufacturers to offer advanced Open OS handsets for both the high-end and the rapidly growing mid-range market.
The result of the joint effort will bring to market an evolving portfolio of wireless technology platforms with Open OS support to reduce complexity, investment and time to market for device manufacturers. The solutions, which seamlessly integrate the modem and applications processor, will be presented in one pre-verified and tested platform reference design. This approach will drastically reduce development and verification efforts previously undertaken by device manufacturers, enabling customers to rapidly bring highly advanced yet competitively priced products to market.
Greg Delagi, senior vice president of TI's Wireless Terminals Business Unit, said, "It's a tribute to the long standing collaborative relationship between EMP and TI that we can tap into and combine each company's unique wireless expertise in order to deliver the most timely, targeted solutions to the market. TI's broad, proven product portfolio and advanced manufacturing capabilities have continued to adjust to the demanding requirements of EMP's customer base. We believe that today's announcement will build on what TI can bring to EMP and what both companies together can bring to this vital, dynamic industry."
Robert Puskaric, head of Ericsson's mobile platforms' unit, added, "Ericsson is clear in its commitment to design and offer a portfolio of flexible, innovative mobile platforms that address the requirements of the rapidly evolving mobile device market. We are pleased to work closely with TI to combine the finest of each company's core wireless know-how — EMP's access technology and platform size leadership with TI's innovative OMAP application processors in order to provide the most capable Open OS platforms on the market today."
Handsets based on these solutions are expected to be available on the market in the second half of 2008.