NTT DoCoMo, Renesas Technology, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Sharp and Sony Ericsson, today announced that they
plan to jointly develop a next-generation mobile phone platform for
dual-mode handsets supporting HSDPA2/W-CDMA (3G) and GSM/GPRS/EDGE (2G).
Development of the platform is targeted to complete during Q2,
FY2008 (July-September).
The six companies agreed to the joint development project in an
effort to provide a platform with advanced functionality for 3G
mobile phones. The new platform will be based on the SH-Mobile G3,
a single-chip system LSI which implements a baseband processor
supporting HSDPA cat. 82/W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE communications
and an application processor with high-end multimedia functions,
together with a reference design integrating audio, power supply,
and RF front-end modules. The platform will also include common
software for basic functions, including a sophisticated operating
system such as Symbian, device drivers, middleware, and
communication software.
NTT DoCoMo and Renesas have already jointly developed the SH-Mobile
G1, a first-generation single-chip LSI for dual-mode handsets
supporting W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS. The SH-Mobile G1 is now in mass
production and handsets built around it first appeared on the
market in the fall of 2006. The second-generation successor, the
SH-Mobile G2, and a mobile phone platform integrating core software
are currently under development by NTT DoCoMo, Renesas, Fujitsu,
Mitsubishi Electric, and Sharp. (Handsets employing the G2 are
scheduled to appear in the fall of 2007.)
By implementing the platform as a base system, mobile phone
manufacturers Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp, and Sony
Ericsson can eliminate the need to develop common handset
functions. This is expected to significantly reduce development
time and costs, allowing the manufacturers to invest more time and
resources in developing distinctive handset features.
Renesas plans to provide the platform to the worldwide W-CDMA
market, in addition to customers in Japan, aiming to further reduce
costs.