TI Device Converges Bluetooth, WLAN, FM Audio

LONDON — Texas Instruments Incorporated has started sampling to selected mobile phone designers a device that integrates mobile WLAN, Bluetooth and FM stereo audio in one chip.

Dubbed the WiLink 5.0, the company plans to offer various packaging options for the device, including on-board and module versions, and expects to see the first handset using the platform on the market early next year.

The fifth generation of TI's mWLAN platform, the device will offer seamless connectivity between Wireless LANs and cellular networks, optimized on TI's OMAP-Vox and WiLink technology.

The platform will enable Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) standard based operation on the handset across multiple operating systems such as Symbian, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Linux and low-level operating systems.

UMA provides consumers on-the-go voice access over WLAN or the cellular network using their mobile phones, and will transition to IMS as the fixed mobile convergence market matures.

The 5.0 platforms integrates TI's recently announced BlueLink 6.0 that combines a high performance Bluetooth part with high fidelity FM stereo and mono performance on a single chip.

The chip will be made on the 90-nm version of TI's DRP process technology. The platform uses the second generation of the company’s Bluetooth/WLAN hardware and software coexistence package, enabling re-use of existing systems, antenna sharing and thus quick time to market.

"The market for mobile WLAN is maturing, and manufacturers need optimized solutions that address tighter synergy and system operation between WLAN and Bluetooth, as well as adequate support to keep up with the evolution of fixed mobile convergence," said Marc Cetto, general manager of TI's Mobile Connectivity Solutions Business, in a statement.