Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Texas Instruments (April 2006-) | Subject: OMAPV1030
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 07 December 2006
Amoi launches smartphones for China
Microsoft and Amoi Electronics unveiled four new Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0-based smartphones which will be offered at lower price points than ever seen before in the China market.
Microsoft and Amoi Electronics have unveiled four new Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0-based smartphones which will be offered at lower price points than ever seen before in the China market These GSM/GPRS/EDGE-enabled phones are powered by an enhanced, cost-effective solution from the Texas Instruments (TI) OMAP-Vox platform
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 4 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Amoi Electronics is the first device maker to launch smartphones using this lower-cost, high-performance chipset architecture.
In the past, smartphones running robust operating systems required a more expensive dual-core chipset to power a rich user interface, data networking, and additional personal and business applications.
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The OMAPV1030 solution enables Amoi to achieve high-quality performance and lower-power consumption coupled with advanced affordable multimedia features to smartphones.
The first of the four smartphones, the Amoi E72, is expected to sell at a retail price below RMB2,000 (US $250), the lowest price ever for a Windows Mobile 5.0-powered smartphone in China.
Prices for the other three models, the Amoi E75, Amoi E76 and Amoi E78, will be announced in the future.
Available in various form factors - slider, candy bar, or with QWERTY keyboard - these Windows Mobile-powered smartphones include the Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Windows Mobile 5.0, which supports Microsoft Direct Push Technology.
This provides busy mobile professionals with always-on access to up-to-date information in their email, calendar, tasks and contacts, helping them to stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues.
The Amoi devices offer the same entertainment and lifestyle experience of other Windows Mobile-powered smartphones.
These light-weight and slim devices offer music and video capabilities in a familiar experience with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile.
With TI's BlueLink 5.0 Bluetooth solution support, users can conduct over-the-air synchronisation of data with their desktops as well as enjoy stereo-quality music on their Bluetooth stereo headsets.
The Amoi smartphones offer digital cameras (up to 2Mpixel) that can also shoot video, and the high-quality colour screens enhance the viewing of video clips while on the go.
Internet Explorer is also offered on all of the new Amoi smartphones for a rich Internet browsing experience.
According to a report by Analysys, the smartphone market in China is expected to grow at 50 percent over the next three years, with sales volumes anticipated to reach 17.64 million in 2008.
This growth has been driven by increased user awareness, converged devices, better designs, the enrichment of third-party applications, and the popularity of high-speed wireless connectivity.
"We strongly believe in the potential of a mass market for smartphones in China as well as other developed and developing markets in the world," said Mr.Li Xiaozhong, President of Amoi Electronics, Co, .
"Our partnership with Microsoft and Texas Instruments has allowed us to offer the Windows Mobile smartphone experience at lower price points than ever before".
"Microsoft is very excited to be a part of the innovation that Amoi and Texas Instruments have brought to this new line of lower-cost smartphones," said Pieter Knook, Senior Vice President, Mobile Embedded Devices and Communications Sector, Microsoft Corp.
"The lower price points will help us extend availability of advanced features like email, streaming video or mobile services to a wider segment of customers enabling them to work or play wherever and whenever they want".
All four Amoi smartphones feature robust hardware specifications and will run all applications designed for Windows Mobile-powered smartphones.
Product specifications will be released shortly before commercial availability.
The OMAPV1030 GSM/GPRS/EDGE solution was developed to bring advanced multimedia features to mainstream mobile phones.
The design expands on TI's proven GSM/GPRS/EDGE technology and exploits TI's advanced 90nm digital process technology to enable handset manufacturers to reduce costs and speed time-to-market.
The OMAPV1030 solution runs both modem and applications processing on a single OMAP core, ensuring a high-quality mobile multimedia experience.
The combination of the ARM9 and TI Digital Signal Processor (DSP) improves performance while reducing costs and power consumption, resulting in longer battery life and usage times for an optimal user experience.
The OMAP-Vox platform is designed to maximise software re-use driving down overall development costs down, to provide a natural and affordable roadmap to next-generation standards.
"TI remains committed to delivering open solutions that foster development of lower-cost Smartphones".
"Our OMAP-Vox platform was architected with the mainstream consumer in mind to deliver a high-quality, multimedia experience," said Richard Kerslake, Worldwide General Manager, 3G and OMAP Business, Texas Instruments.
"exploiting our robust OMAPV1030 processor and Bluetooth technology, as well as Microsoft's Windows Mobile software, Amoi is delivering personal entertainment and communication capabilities to the masses".
These devices will be commercially available in China by January 2007.
Amoi Electronics Company Limited originates from Xiamen Solid Electronic Limited in 1981 and is listed at the Shanghai Stock Exchange since June 1997.
It is headquartered in Xiamen, China.
Aiming at becoming an innovator from China, Amoi has expanded its business towards 3C (Communication, Computer and Consumer electronics) diversification and internationalization.
Currently, Amoi's product range covers 2.5G/3G mobile phones, PHS handsets, LCD TVs and notebook PCs.
Amoi Electronics is one of the leading domestic manufacturers of mobile phones in China, having an engineering team of over 1300 people, and it has established R and D institutes in Xiamen, Shanghai and Nanjing, respectively.
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