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Post to SlashdotIntel Corporation today announced its second processor for cellular phones, the PXA800EF, the industry’s first single-chip processor for cellular phones using Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) wireless networks.
The Intel PXA800EF cellular processor – the latest product to use Intel’s advanced
”Wireless Internet on a Chip” technology – combines the key components of today’s cellular phones and handheld computers onto a single microchip to enable advanced features, new data capabilities, longer battery life and more innovative designs for mainstream phones.
The Intel PXA800EF cellular processor is built using the same chip design as the Intel PXA800F cellular processor unveiled earlier this year. To add support for EDGE networks, Intel made certain software modifications and increased the speed of the communications processing of its Intel Micro Signal Architecture.
The extra performance and flexibility of the chip design allows phone makers to create a family of products with a variety of features using a shared design. For example, the Intel PXA800F cellular processor gives phone developers the option of offering 104MHz of computing performance for entry-level devices, or up to 312MHz for more advanced applications on GSM/GPRS networks. For advanced phones running the faster EDGE networks, phone makers can use the Intel PXA800EF cellular processor, with an integrated 312MHz processor using Intel XScale technology to take advantage of both network speed and applications performance.
In addition to the high-performance, low-power processor running at 312MHz, the new cellular processor features 4MB of integrated Intel On-Chip Flash memory and 512KB of SRAM.
The Intel PXA800EF cellular processor also includes a 156 MHz signal processor using the Intel Micro Signal Architecture with 512KB of integrated Intel On-Chip Flash memory and 64KB of SRAM, resulting in a complete system on a single chip for advanced EDGE cellular networks.
EDGE is an emerging technology that sends and receives data two to three times faster than today's GSM/GPRS (2.5G) networks. Currently there are less than 5 cellular phones with EDGE support in the market.
The Intel PXA800EF cellular processor is sampling today with production volumes expected in the first quarter of 2004. Cellular phones using the new processors will be available later in 2004. The Intel PXA800EF cellular processor has a suggested list price of $29.15 in mass-quantities.
