Product category:
Reference Designs
News Release from: Zarlink Semiconductor | Subject: ZL20200 reference design
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 14 March 2003
Reference design targets AMPS resurgence
The ZL20200 reference design is the industry's lowest-cost off-the-shelf hardware platform for single- or dual-band TDMA/AMPS cellular handsets.
Zarlink Semiconductor has strengthened its position in the resurgent TDMA/AMPS cellphone market by launching the ZL20200 reference design - the industry's lowest-cost, off-the-shelf hardware platform for single- or dual-band TDMA/AMPS cellular handsets Using Zarlink's ZL20200 - the world's first commercial single-chip radio transceiver - and PrairieComm's PCI3610, the industry's leading TDMA baseband processor, the ZL20200 reference design delivers a complete electronic blueprint for the most critical part of a TDMA/AMPS cellphone
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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With Zarlink's reference board, manufacturers can quickly design an entire handset by adding other off-the-shelf components, including keypad, numeric display, battery, microphone and speaker.
"Network operators are discovering they can extend the lifespan of their TDMA/AMPS networks - and compete against other cellular technologies - with low-cost cellphones that deliver good-quality voice services", said Derek Rye, Cellular Marketing Manager, User Access business unit, Zarlink Semiconductor.
"With the ZL20200 reference design, we're lowering the cost and speeding the design of TDMA/AMPS cellphones".
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"The PCI3610 is a technologically superior, market-proven baseband processor that provides an excellent complement to Zarlink's innovative ZL20200 single-chip transceiver", said Jim Berg, Director, Worldwide Sales, PrairieComm.
"Zarlink has leveraged the strength of both chips to produce a highly integrated, low-cost platform".
The ZL20200 reference design is a hardware platform that eases system development and speeds time-to-market for companies designing single- or dual-band (Cellular 800/PCS1900) TDMA/AMPS (IS-136) cellular handsets.
The two-chip radio and baseband reference design minimises bill-of-material costs and fits on a circuit board measuring only 72 x 38mm - nearly half the size of a credit card.
Zarlink's reference board is supported by Cellcom software from CSI Wireless.
This PC-based software offers a complete development environment, allowing engineers to easily manipulate the reference design and develop the man-machine interface and other firmware.
Intended primarily for TDMA/AMPS handsets, the ZL20200 reference design can also be designed into cellular modems for personal computers and PDAs.
Zarlink's ZL20200 reference design complements the company's off-the-shelf ZL20200 radio transceiver chip, which is supported with hardware design documentation and a device evaluation board.
The PCI3610 from PrairieComm is an integrated baseband processor that exceeds all TIA/EIA-136-270 specifications.
The market-tested PCI3610 is widely used in TDMA handsets around the world.
Zarlink also offers the ZL20250, the world's first commercial, single-chip radio transceiver for cellphones used in multiband, multimode 2.5G digital cellular networks, including the GAIT, GPRS and Edge platforms.
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