Qualcomm Modem Blends 3G-4G Technologies

Qualcomm is combining several 3G and 4G wireless technologies for use in future cell phones and mobile devices, it said at the World Mobile Congress this week.

Company executives outlined plans for a multimode 3G/LTE chipset, which is adding function support for CDMa2000 1xEV-DO Rev. B and multicarrier HSPA+ and LTE. The integrated solution, which is expected to sample in mid-2010, will also feature Simultaneous Voice-Data Operation.

Once suspected of lagging in the race to supply LTE applications because of its previous commitment to Ultra Mobile Broadband, Qualcomm has accelerated its drive in recent months to be in the vanguard of LTE components.

Qualcomm is focusing much of its effort on the Mobile Station Modem MSM8960 chipset, and the company is working toward making the chipset the only early complete integrated solution supporting all of the world's leading mobile broadband standards. The chipset is being designed to offer "exceptional multimedia performance," Qualcomm added.

"Multimode 3G/LTE chipsets will be crucial to smooth deployments of LTE by operators who are looking to complement their existing 3G networks, and the MSM8960 delivers maximum flexibility," said Steve Mollenkopf, executive VP of Qualcomm, in a statement. Mollenkopf is also president of Qualcomm's CDMA Technologies unit.

Along with Qualcomm's QTR8610 transceiver, which integrates CDMA2000 and UMTS radio frequency, the devices are expected to enable smartphone designers to eliminate standalone GPS, Bluetooth, and FM radio chips and codecs. The transceiver is slated to sample in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Why is LTE becoming favored over WiMax? InformationWeek has published a comparison between LTE and WiMax that may shed some light. Download the report here (registration required).