Samsung to use Qualcomm 3G Chipsets

South Korean handset maker Samsung today confirms it will use Qualcomm's chipsets and system software for dual-mode third generation mobile phones. Using Qualcomm's MSM 6200 chipset, the future Samsung phones will support UMTS as well as GSM and GPRS technologies. Although Qualcomm is known for its stronghold on patents for CDMA wireless technology, the company also holds some patents that pertain to rival technology W-CDMA -- also known as UMTS -- and has been for some time developing and marketing chipsets aimed at the UMTS market.

''The MSM6200 solution, with its direct conversion radio technology, provides a cost-effective solution that will enable Samsung Electronics to be among the first to bring dual-mode W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS handsets to market,'' says Don Schrock, president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. ''The deployment of multimode solutions for W-CDMA and GSM continues the longstanding relationship between QUALCOMM and Samsung Electronics in developing innovative products for the worldwide wireless market.''

Separately, Qualcomm says samples of its MSM6100 Mobile Station Modem chipset and system software for CDMA2000 1x multimedia use has begun sample shipments. The MSM6100 solution is Qualcomm's first based on the ARM926EJ- S microprocessor.

Source:
WirelessWeek