Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: RF Micro Devices | Subject: RF8900
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 16 March 2005
Single chip brings Bluetooth and GPS
together
The RF8900 is billed as the industry's first sole-source "converged" Bluetooth/GPS solution.
Shipping now from RF Micro Devices, the RF8900 is the industry's first sole-source "converged" Bluetooth/Global Positioning System (GPS) solution Through its unique ability to integrate both Bluetooth communication and GPS technology into a complete system solution, RFMD's RF8900 enables a 20% reduction in size and a 25% reduction in cost compared with competing solutions
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 25 Apr 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The RF8900 is shipping today to a leading provider of GPS accessory products.
RFMD's RF8900 is the enabling technology for "puck-style" devices that transmit location information wirelessly, enabling location-based services to be received by any handheld device with Bluetooth technology and associated mapping software.
The RF8900 includes a host processor that runs both the GPS navigation and Bluetooth communication functions.
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By comparison, competitive solutions require a more costly architecture utilising separate processors for both Bluetooth communication and GPS.
In addition, the RF8900 includes all system integration functions customised for high-volume applications.
Frank Morese, Vice President, Wireless Connectivity Business Unit, RF Micro Devices, said: "We are pleased to announce production shipments of the industry's first "converged" Bluetooth/GPS solution".
"The RF8900 is an extremely compelling and competitive solution that provides exceptional performance, ease of use and low-cost implementation in a very small form factor".
"Given these key customer benefits, as well as our ability to simplify our customers' supply chain and speed their time to market, we are receiving significant customer interest".
"We anticipate continued momentum as GPS and Bluetooth technologies increasingly populate next-generation wireless handheld devices".
The RF8900 is a highly integrated system solution incorporating Bluetooth wireless technology and GPS navigation technology with superior signal sensitivity (-155dBm).
The signal sensitivity of the RF8900 is 5dBm better than competing solutions, enabling the RF8900 to track GPS signals down to -155dBm, while maintaining a 1s position update rate.
High signal sensitivity allows end users to locate their position virtually anywhere, including areas where GPS signals are weak, fading or obstructed, such as light indoor environments and outdoor areas where there is foliage, tall buildings or mountains.
This unique solution is offered to customers with a reference design that includes all software, filtering, memory, reference frequencies and antennas required for a complete Bluetooth/GPS system solution.
Accessories enabled by the RF8900 provide GPS data (position, velocity and time) to handheld devices over a Bluetooth link.
The solution is designed to interface with Bluetooth-enabled PDAs, cellphones and personal computers.
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