New Handset Doubles W-VoIP Range and Offers Simultaneous Multi-Mode Operation

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Quorum Systems, Inc., a fabless semiconductor manufacturer specializing in multi-mode, multi-band single-chip radio transceivers, announced, in collaboration with Analog Devices, Inc. and TTPCom, the Sereno(TM) UM-1, a GSM/Voice-over-Wi-Fi dual-mode handset reference design. Housed in a small form-factor clam-shell design, the UM-1 is based upon Quorum's unique QS2000 single-chip bulk-CMOS multi-mode transceiver and represents the first truly optimized reference design for phones that support Wi-Fi and cellular, a market that is expected to reach over 100 million units by 2010. Until now, cellular and Wi-Fi functionality was only available in $500 smartphone devices. With this technology, dual-mode GSM/VoWi-Fi capability is now available at a sub-$100 price-point.

With Quorum's Multi-Access Technology(TM) (QMAT) at the heart of the device, the Sereno UM-1 has more than double the Wi-Fi range for voice applications when compared to today's cordless VoIP. In cellular mode, the QS2000 also increases talk-time and standby capacity in the Sereno UM-1 by 10 percent and 20 percent respectively without compromising on industry-leading GSM/GPRS/EDGE and Wi-Fi radio performance.

Physical antenna placement and interference issues that have previously plagued the design of mass-market converged handsets have also been eliminated as a result of Quorum's intellectual property.

Combining Quorum's QS2000 and Analog Devices' Blackfin(R) SoftFone(R) for EDGE chipset, the handset enables simultaneous multi-mode functionality and seamless hand-off that offers true mobility in the office, home and everywhere between.

"Converged Wi-Fi/cellular handsets will be an important segment of the market going forward," stated Christian Kermarrec, Vice President, RF and Wireless Systems Business Unit, Analog Devices, Inc. "Working with Quorum and TTPCom, we have been able to leverage the processing speed of our Blackfin SoftFone for EDGE chipset to run all the voice coding algorithms for GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks as well as those used for VoIP, including IPSEC and other VoIP-specific software."

The reference design is built upon the TTPCom Architecture and protocol stack, a next generation intelligent framework for mobile devices that enables modular access to multiple access technologies and associated protocol-stacks, multiple operating systems and silicon platforms.

"Mass market converged handsets require both innovative component integration and a strong software architecture in order to address increased complexity within the handset," stated Richard Walker, managing director of TTPCom's software business unit. "We are excited about this opportunity to bring mass market Wi-Fi/Cellular products to the market by combining Quorum's silicon level innovation with TTPCom's intelligent software architecture."

"This is a truly significant step towards accelerating the adoption of converged Wi-Fi/cellular handsets," stated Bernard Xavier, President and CEO of Quorum Systems. "Together, our companies have effectively designed a ready-made converged handset that allows customers to get a high-quality product into production and into the market in the shortest possible period of time, all while saving a considerable amount on bill of materials and development costs."

Quorum's QMAT(TM) intellectual property (IP) allows the QS2000's radio resource to be shared, enabling simultaneous multi-mode functionality while maximizing the reuse of external circuitry. Manufactured in low power, low cost CMOS technology, the Sereno QS2000 offers an unparalleled degree of integration that reduces component count and footprint, which in turn offers lower overall cost and improved production yield as well as reduced time to market for customers.

The Sereno UM-1 hardware platform is capable of supporting SIP and UMA modes of operation for VoIP.

At 3GSM in Barcelona, February 13-16, 2006, Quorum Systems will be demonstrating the UM-1 at stand H30, Hall 2, Level 1. TTPCom will be demonstrating the UM-1 at stand C67 in Hall 1. ADI will be demonstrating the UM-1 at stand D43, Hall 1. To schedule a demonstration at 3GSM or for further information on the UM-1 please contact Yash Singh, Quorum Systems' Vice President of Platform Solutions at Email Contact or +1-858-546-0895. Members of the press and analyst community should contact Dave Richardson at Email Contact or +1-415-994-1423.

    Sereno UM-1 Reference Design Features
    -- Fully supports concurrent operation of 802.11 b/g, GSM/GPRS/EDGE for
       voice & data applications.
    -- Optimized Wi-Fi performance for VoIP
    -- Co-existence based on QMAT(TM), extended range during multimode
       operation
    -- Active interference mitigation during full Wi-Fi transmit power
    -- Co-location of multiple antenna(s) with no performance degradation
    -- Reference Design capable of running UMA & IMS clients
    -- True Quad-band GSM operation for USGSM850, EGSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900
    -- 802.11b/g operation
    -- Multimedia features such as 64 tone polyphonic ringer, SMS/EMS/MMS
       messaging client, customizable MMI based on TTPCom's Architecture, 262K
       color main display WAP2.0 compliant browser
    -- Pre-FTA screened

    Sereno UM-1 Reference Design Package
    -- Reference handset
    -- Core software binaries (GSM/GPRS/EDGE protocol stack, drivers for
       peripherals, embedded OS, Wi-Fi drivers, modules complaint to RFC specs
       for SIP, RTP, DHCP, ARP, TCP/IP, 802.2, WEP, WPA-TKIP)
    -- Documentation that includes a user manual, Pre-FTA conformance test
       results, schematics, gerbers, eBOM, PADS library & IOT test results

    About Quorum Systems, Inc.

Quorum Systems is a fabless semiconductor company that develops highly integrated multi-mode CMOS radio frequency (RF) transceivers. Based in San Diego, California, USA, Quorum has focused on developing key intellectual property that enables multi-band, multi-mode radios to be low cost, low power and high performance. For more information about the company and its products please visit www.quorumsystems.com.

About Analog Devices

Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pillars on which Analog Devices has built one of the longest standing, highest growth companies within the technology sector. Acknowledged industry-wide as the world leader in data conversion and signal conditioning technology, Analog Devices serves over 60,000 customers, representing virtually all types of electronic equipment. Celebrating 40 years as a leading global manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications, Analog Devices is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, with design and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. Analog Devices' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "ADI" and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

About TTPCom

With 10 offices and development centres around the world, TTPCom Ltd. is the principal operating subsidiary of TTP Communications plc . The company develops intellectual property used in the design and manufacture of wireless communication terminals. TTPCom licenses its technology to leading semiconductor and terminal manufacturers worldwide, including Analog Devices, Intel, LG, NEC, Renesas, Sharp and Siemens. TTPCom has established a world leading position with its GPRS, EDGE and 3G protocol software; offers rapid customisation of handsets through its AJAR applications framework; and develops both radio and baseband cellular engines through its macro products. More than 40 million devices using TTPCom technology were shipped during 2004. More information can be found on TTPCom's website at: http://www.ttpcom.com .

CONTACT: Yash Singh, Vice President, Platform Solutions of Quorum Systems,
Inc, +1-858-546-0895, or Email Contact; or Dave Richardson,
President of elev8 Public Relations, +1-415-409-1647, or Email Contact

Web site: http://www.quorumsystems.com/
http://www.ttpcom.com/