Software is full package for multimedia handsets

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Feb 9, 2006

Multimedia software and user applications are pre-integrated with GSM/GPRS protocol stack software for multimedia featurephones based on Analog Devices' SoftFone chipsets.

TTPCom and Analog Devices have developed multimedia software and user applications pre-integrated with GSM/GPRS protocol stack software for multimedia featurephones based on Analog Devices' SoftFone chipsets.

The essential multimedia features such as MPEG4/H.263 video encode/decode, multi-megapixel still image capture, MP3/AAC music playback, and polyphonic MIDI ringtone software are integrated with the protocol stack software and validated on reference platforms to accelerate the development of handsets targeting the mid- and high-end multimedia featurephone market.

"This highly optimised hardware and software package is loaded with multimedia functionality to provide a highly affordable 'out of the box' solution for handset manufacturers", commented Alan Lewis, Platform Product Manager at TTPCom.

"The prevalidated, proven technology can reduce handset development time by two to three months".

"Costs are also kept to a minimum as the software and processing power available in the newest Analog Devices chipsets allows us to manage the multimedia processing on-chip and eliminate the coprocessor for the majority of feature phone designs".

"Development of multimedia handsets has previously involved a separate coprocessor and multiple algorithms running on various chips, creating a level of complexity that results in higher cost and longer development time for handset developers", said Christian Kermarrec, Vice President, RF and Wireless Systems, Analog Devices.

"TTPCom's integration of the most popular multimedia functions on our SoftFone chipset simplifies the handset development for our customers, and reduces both cost and risk".

The Analog Devices SoftFone chipsets supported by TTPCom's new pre-integrated software packages include the SoftFone AD6900 (LeMans) and SoftFone AD6758 (Ares) digital baseband processors intended for Edge and GPRS applications.

Analog Devices' recently announced AD6900 includes the Blackfin processor, which targets high-end Edge and GPRS multimedia handsets, supporting video encoding and decoding up to 30 frames per second for QVGA displays, while the AD6758 is intended for mid-range multimedia GPRS handsets, supporting 20 frame/s QCIF video displays.

Each digital baseband processor is complemented by an analogue baseband/audio/power-management IC and an Othello direct conversion radio transceiver.

Complete reference platforms are available from Analog Devices to support handset development, with the TTPCom pre-integrated software packages optimised, fully tested and validated to reduce development time and risk.

The software packages are fully integrated with the TTPCom Ajar platform, the definitive applications platform for featurephones, combining a comprehensive applications framework, a toolset for the development and testing of applications and user interfaces, and a complete suite of applications for today's leading-edge phones.