Technology is Breakthrough for Mass-Market and Feature-Rich
Multi-Mode Handsets
Infineon Technologies, SkyTerra, and TerreStar Networks today jointly
announced the world’s first multi-standard mobile platform based on
Infineon’s innovative software-defined-radio (SDR) technology. SkyTerra
and TerreStar are both developing next-generation integrated
satellite-terrestrial communications networks.
This groundbreaking technology will enable ubiquitous mobile
communications coverage from anywhere in North America using mass-market
devices costing about the same as terrestrial cellular-only devices.
SDR-enabled satellite-terrestrial handsets will operate with multiple
cellular and satellite-based communications technologies including GSM,
GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA and GMR1-2G/3G.
“We are very happy to contribute our innovative SDR technology to this
exciting new application of integrated satellite-terrestrial mobile
devices in both SkyTerra’s and TerreStar’s networks,” said Ronen
Ben-Hamou, Vice President and General Manager of Software Defined Radio
mobile platforms in the Wireless Division of Infineon. “Together with
our partners we leverage the flexibility and efficiency of our SDR
technology into this ‘connected-anywhere’ mobile environment, enabling
operators to provide very compelling multi-standard communication
devices to even the most demanding end users.”
“We are very pleased to work with Infineon on the development of an
SDR-based chipset platform,” said Drew Caplan, Chief Network Officer for
SkyTerra. “With this agreement, we are taking another significant step
toward making combined satellite-terrestrial communications a reality
for consumers, enterprise, government and public safety users. We
anticipate that this SDR chipset agreement will expand our market
opportunities as well as the range of technologies and potential devices
that will be satellite-terrestrial capable, providing consumers with
additional cost-effective purchase options.”
Dennis Matheson, Chief Technology Officer at TerreStar, added: “The
Infineon SDR chipset is a tremendous addition to our chipset program and
greatly expands the universe of devices that will be satellite enabled.
In addition, the programmable nature of SDR technology allows for
feature upgrades via software and shortest-ever turn-around times for
next–generation products.
