US : RF Micro Devices introduced a portfolio of complementary cellular components designed to address the increasing complexity of cellular front-ends in multimode 3G handsets.

The portfolio of complementary components, which initially includes cellular switches, DC to DC converters and low noise amplifiers (LNAs), increases RFMD’s opportunity in handsets beyond transceivers and power amplifier-based front-end solutions, where RFMD is the industry leader. The total addressable market for complementary cellular components in 3G multimode handsets (including standalone switches, DC to DC converters, LNAs, duplexers and other non-PA based components) is expected to exceed $1 billion in 2010.

The increasing complexity of cellular front-ends in multiband, multimode 3G handsets is driving customer requirements for platform flexibility and energy conservation in 3G handset designs. RFMD’s newly introduced high-linearity, ultra-compact LNAs and low-loss, high-linearity switches facilitate platform flexibility by easing the implementation of additional bands for multi-region support. Additionally, RFMD’s innovative low-noise DC to DC converters extend battery life and reduce thermal dissipation in 3G multimode handsets by efficiently reducing the power supply voltage delivered to the power amplifier and thus reducing total dissipated power of the system.

Eric Creviston, corporate vice president of RFMD’s cellular products group, said, “RFMD is best positioned to understand and solve the complex requirements of next-generation cellular front-ends. The demand for complementary cellular components in 3G multimode handsets is growing significantly faster than the handset market, as UMTS handsets proliferate and as new UMTS regions are added. With our broad product portfolio for 3G front-ends and our industry-leading manufacturing scale, RFMD is able to address this increased demand, while also solving the growing requirements for energy conservation, platform flexibility and multi-region support.”

Industry research firm Gartner Dataquest forecasts the 3G multimode market will exceed 600 million handsets by 2010, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of over 45%. A 3G multimode device includes a GPRS/EDGE path and at least one UMTS path, both of which require PA-based front-end solutions and associated complementary components. As 3G multimode devices proliferate and as the number of bands increases to support multiple regions, the market for front-end solutions and complementary components in 3G multimode handsets is expected to significantly outpace the rate of growth of cellular handsets.

RFMD will showcase its new complementary components and front-end solutions for 3G multimode handsets at the 2007 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, February 12-15, 2007, in Hall 8, Stand 8B79.