NTT DoCoMo, Renesas, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric and Sharp to Jointly Develop Platform for W-CDMA Handsets

A comprehensive platform combining a single-chip LSI that consists of a baseband processor and an application processor together with core software such as OS

NTT DOCOMO, INC.,Renesas Technology Corp.,Fujitsu Limited,Mitsubishi Electric Corporation,Sharp Corporation

Tokyo, February 13, 2006

NTT DoCoMo, Inc., Renesas Technology Corp., Fujitsu Limited, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Sharp Corporation today announced that they will jointly develop a comprehensive mobile phone platform⁽¹⁾ combining a single-chip LSI for dual mode handsets supporting HSDPA⁽²⁾/W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE, and core software such as operating systems. The new mobile phone platform will help accelerate the global adoption of W-CDMA services including FOMA™, and lower the costs of these handsets. The companies expect to have the platform developed around Q2/FY2007 (July-September).

The next-generation mobile phone platform is built on the previously developed single-chip LSI technology of NTT DoCoMo and Renesas since July 2004, which combines a baseband processor⁽³⁾ and the SH-Mobile application processor⁽⁴⁾ for dual-mode W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS phones. The jointly developed platform adds new functionality, such as support for HSPDA and EDGE technologies and full development support including OS, middleware and drivers.

The platform can be implemented directly as a base system for W-CDMA handsets and eliminates the need for mobile phone manufacturers such as Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric and Sharp to develop a separate system for the common handset functions, significantly reducing the time and cost of development. At the same time, it allows them to invest more time and resources into developing handsets that are distinctive to them.

The platform will be initially available for FOMA, and later for UMTS⁽⁵⁾ offered by Renesas. When the platform is widely spread and adopted, a further cost reduction of the handsets will be expected.

 A block diagram for the mobile phone platform

• [1] Mobile phone platform

  A base system needed for mobile phones, which integrates software and hardware such as a baseband processor.

• [2] HSDPA

  High Speed Downlink Packet Access. It is based on the enhanced and high-speed version of the 3G W-CDMA data transmission, also known as the 3.5G data transmission standard. The data transmission speed with FOMA tops at 384kbps, and under the standard 3G specifications it reaches up to 2Mbps today. However, with the introduction of HSPDA, theoretically, the maximum data transmission speed can increase up to 14Mbps. Also, this platform will support the transmission speed up to 3.6Mbps.

• [3] Baseband processor

  A processor that handles the communication function within the mobile phone.

• [4] Application processor

  An LSI that processes multimedia applications such as emails with still pictures and movies, audio and video playback, video telephony capabilities and more.

• [5] UMTS

  Universal Mobile Telecommunication System. A European standard for 3G-telecommunication system compliant with IMT-2000 with the highest baud rate of 2Mbps. In this context, we refer UMTS as a synonym for W-CDMA.

i-mode and FOMA are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries. NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is only available to subscribers in Japan. Other names of products, companies, and brands mentioned in this document are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Date: 13 February, 2006
City: Tokyo
Company: NTT DoCoMo, Inc., Renesas Technology Corp., Fujitsu Limited, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Sharp Corporation,