Israel's Modem-Art enters 3G market with programmable processor

Israel's Modem-Art enters 3G market with programmable processor
By Semiconductor Business News
February 18, 2002 (7:51 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020218S0029

RAANANA, Israel -- Israel's Modem-Art Ltd. today announced its first product--a programmable, baseband processor for 2.5 and 3G handsets.

The MA1000 baseband processor from Modem-Art is geared for handsets, based on the Wideband code-division multiple access (W-CDMA) standard. The MA1000 also provides a smooth migration path by implementing Release 1999 and Release 4 of the 3GPP (Third Generation Project Partnerships) standard.

It reduces terminal development time and cost through minimizing design, testing and production cycles. By coupling embedded software with its baseband processor, Modem-Art's solution enables single-mode W-CDMA (UMTS) as well as multimode GSM/GPRS terminals.

The baseband processor is built around Modem-Art's proprietary core technology--the Programmable Modem Engine (PME). The PME's multiprocessing architecture enables a rapid implementation of 3GPPstandards releases and technical updates by software and firmware, rat her than hardware.

The result is a baseband processor with broad system functionality, flexibility and low-power consumption that facilitates a smooth transition to new wireless services.

"We believe that Modem-Art's programmable baseband processor will help ease through the major bottleneck that holds back 3G industry growth," said Yossi Kofman, co-CEO of Modem-Art. "By supporting the 3GPP standard with a programmable baseband processor, our technology gives terminal manufacturers the ability to exploit the powerful features and variety of services provided by W-CDMA systems, leading to significant advantages in the evolving 3G marketplace," he said.

The processor will be available by the middle of this year