New Mot reference design supports Linux-based smart phone development

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Feb. 17, 2003

Motorola Inc. has announced a new reference design for developers of mobile handsets which take advantage of the growing convergence of voice and data functionality.

The i.Smart smartphone reference design makes use of Motorola's i.250 "Innovative Convergence" GSM/GPRS platform i.MX media extension applications processor, supports open operating systems, and includes a combination of hardware, software, and related support services. Motorola says the reference design offers the lowest part count in its class and it is designed to allow advanced voice, image, video, and data capability on a single platform with an open standards interface. Operating system support includes embedded Linux, Symbian, Microsoft Windows CE, and PalmOS, and applications supported will include messaging, Internet browsing, digital image capture, as well as audio/video encode.

Features of the i.Smart smartphone reference design are said to include . . .

High performance/low power consumption applications processor
Open architecture for hosting a wide range of compelling applications
Power efficiency, with exceptional battery life and superb performance
High-level system-on-chip integration
Best-in-class development tools and environment
Multi-OS and multi-system availability
Bluetooth wireless technology
Seamless integration and one-stop-shopping for key components

A block diagram of the reference design is available here.

Other key attributes include . . .

Wireless Platform -- The i.Smart chipset and integrated GSM/GPRS field-proven software is designed to provide a total modem solution for GSM/DCS (digital cellular system) or GSM850/PCS (personal communications services) dual-band mobile devices and is also engineered to upgrade to support quad-band.
Application Subsystem -- The i.MX family of applications processors, based on the ARM9Ô architecture, provides wireless connectivity protocol, operating system, application and media processing functionality. It features high-level on-chip integration with uncompromised performance over a low-power system. Rich peripheral support enables full-color LCD display, Smartcard, USB, Bluetooth? wireless technology and expansion over high-speed multi-media cards (MMC), secure digital (SD), and other emerging storage standards.
Imaging Subsystem -- Includes a fully integrated high-performance CMOS image sensor with features such as integrated timing, control, and analog signal processing for digital imaging applications. It also includes a monolithic image capture and processing engine, making it a true "camera on a chip."
Wireless Networking -- The Bluetooth V1.1-compliant wireless data transceiver integrates the low-power transceiver with the applications processor on the platform to achieve a comprehensive Bluetooth solution. Transceiver features maximize coexistence and noise rejection with 2.4GHz ISM-band interference.
Platform and Services -- In addition to a standard reference platform, there are comprehensive tools and professional support services designed to help OEMs get to market rapidly and efficiently. The tools and pieces of the solution are organized into three major development environments: integrated development environment (IDE), where the GSM/GPRS chipset, handset reference design, and GSM software engine are integrated with the user interface toolkit; radio test environment (RTE), which includes tools for configuring features, testing and fine-tuning radio performance; and manufacturing test environment (MTE) that provides software and manufacturing adaptation tools and services.

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