Bluetooth chip features in Agere Edge design

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Oct 22, 2004

BlueCore has been selected by Agere Systems for its latest Edge/GPRS reference platform for feature rich multimedia mobile phones.

BlueCore has been selected by Agere Systems for its latest Edge/GPRS reference platform for feature rich multimedia mobile phones.

CSR's BlueCore will provide the Bluetooth wireless connectivity to the Agere handset design, which offers time-to-market savings of up to 3 months.

Agere is demonstrating the new platform at PT Expo Comm China in Beijing (26th to 30th October 2004).

Agere's Edge reference platform is based on the company's Sceptre HPE chipset, which is the industry's fastest and smallest Class 12 capable Edge chipset.

At 164mm2, the overall footprint (including power management) is 20% smaller than competing solutions.

Agere was keen to ensure the Bluetooth solution selected for the platform met the requirements of offering handset makers a fast time-to-market and suited the solution's small footprint.

CSR's market leading BlueCore devices are in use in more than 60% of Bluetooth designs on the market today - mobile handset makers including Nokia select BlueCore because of its market leading specification and performance.

Agere is providing a broad range of pre-integrated and tested third-party applications so that handset makers can easily deliver a host of advanced features that consumers expect including Bluetooth wireless connectivity, Java, multimedia messaging service (MMS), polyphonic sound and push-to-talk.

In addition to Bluetooth, the Agere platform offers advanced features and connectivity options for new mobile phones including 40-note polyphonic sound in software, MP3 music capabilities, up to 20 frames-per-second video playback, on-chip USB, infra-red (IrDA) capability, removable secure digital (SD) and multimedia memory cards (MMC).

John Halksworth, Product Marketing Manager at CSR commented: "BlueCore offers the fastest time-to-market of any Bluetooth solution on the market".

"Combining this with the industry leading Agere Edge reference platform and Sceptre HPE chipset, handset manufacturers now have a fast and easy route to manufacturing highly featured multimedia phones with Bluetooth wireless connectivity".