UWB deal pre-empts European bandwidth allocation

Representative agreement provides European access to UWB technology that enables wireless video streaming and high speed multimedia file transfer at up to 480Mbit/s.

Firefly Technology has signed a European representative agreement with the Semiconductor Group of California-based Focus Enhancements for a new UWB technology that enables wireless video streaming and high speed multimedia file transfer at up to 480Mbit/s.

Under the agreement, Firefly will support Focus Enhancements' UWB Technology which is designed to be compliant with WiMedia UWB common radio platform standards and Certified Wireless USB technology from the USB Implementers Forum.

Focus' UWB technology is world ready, and supports the higher WiMedia frequency bands 7 and 8 in the region of 6-7GHz expected to be available in Europe.

Firefly will also support European customers with the existing Focus portfolio of high performance ICs for the video convergence market including IPTV, set top box and portable media player applications.

They will work with existing Focus customers on these products, and will also be responsible for developing new markets for them.

"Entering the UWB wireless market was a strategic decision for us", comments Tony James, Managing Director of Firefly Technology.

"Focus impressed us because their solution is compatible with the expected European bandwidth allocation, and because they have an established customer base here in Europe for their video ICs".

He adds: "We already have engagements with significant customers in the consumer video domain, and we believe that UWB technology from Focus represents a logical step for them".

Focus Enhancements' HD TV encoder semiconductor chips are designed into applications including gaming consoles, IPTV set-top boxes, navigation systems and portable media players and incorporated in high profile consumer products including the Microsoft Zune and Toshiba Gigabeat portable media players.

Mark Zadeh, Vice-President of Worldwide Sales for Focus Enhancements' Semiconductor Group, says: "We were impressed by the depth and strength of the technical support that Firefly is able to bring to our products".

"Firefly has existing relationships with many of our key customers in Europe, and can offer an extremely high level of technical, marketing and sales support".

"Europe is a key market for us, and we are convinced that Firefly is the right partner to enable our customers in the region and ourselves to move forward positively together".

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