Click here to learn
about this Sponsor:
Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum

Keywords: Match:
Renesas samples mysterious multi-core mobile phone processor
Aug. 25, 2005

Renesas is sampling a highly integrated mobile phone processor combining an SH-Mobile-based application processor with a "dual baseband processor" supporting both W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS. The chip was jointly developed with NTT-DoCoMo, and targets dual-mode W-CDMA-GSM/GPRS handsets that will help NTT-DoCoMo and others promote their 3G services globally, Renesas says.

NTT-DoCoMo is the largest mobile operator in Japan, a country that arguably boasts the most advanced mobile phone networks in the world. It chose Linux as its handset operating system in December of 2003, and took a $3M equity stake in embedded Linux supplier MontaVista just before Christmas last year.

Renesas has not specified a name for the new chip, referring to it simply as an "LSI" (large scale integration) -- a term used for chips with 3,000 to 100,000 gates, and often used to designate mobile phone baseband processors that run real-time software for processing voice signals and controlling the radio modem. Renesas originally announced the joint mobile processor development project with NTT DoCoMo in July of 2004.

According to Renesas, the new LSI incorporates NTT-DoCoMo's W-CDMA technology, along with Renesas's GSM/GPRS technology. It also incorporates an application processor based on a third-generation Renesas SH-Mobile core.

Renesas announced its second-generation SH-Mobile core, the SH-Mobile3, in May of last year, claiming that chip was powerful enough to run multimedia applications on general purpose OSes such as Linux. In April of this year, it began shipping an SoC based on an SH-MobileJ3 -- possibly the same core used in the new LSI. That SoC targets mid-market feature phones.

MontaVista has said it is currently contributing to real-time Linux technology it hopes will enable Linux to support single-chipset mobile phone designs, such as the new Renesas LSI. However, all of MontaVista's current Linux mobile design wins are based on Intel XScale (ARM9-derived) PXA-series application processors, as far as we know.

NTT-DoCoMo says it will use the jointly developed LSI to promote its FOMA ("Freedom of Mobile Applications Everywhere") W-CDMA-based 3G services globally. The company's managing director of customer equipment development, Mr. Koji Chiba, said, "I believe this single-chip LSI will lower the cost of FOMA handsets while improving such basic performance features as length of standby time, and will encourage the adoption of FOMA services on a global scale."

Brisk sales of Linux-based mobile phones in Japan helped Linux trounce Windows in global phone shipments in Q1 of 2005, according to Gartner.

Availability

Customers are now evaluating samples and reference boards, according to Renesas.



Related Stories:


(Click here for further information)


FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.

Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.

Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.

Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.

High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.

Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.

Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.

Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

 


Got a HOT tip?   please tell us!
Free weekly newsletter
Enter your email...
Click here for a profile of each sponsor:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
(Become a sponsor)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

Check out the latest Linux powered...

mobile phones!

other cool
gadgets



BREAKING NEWS

• Hacker-friendly karaoke PMP runs Linux
• Maemo gains KOffice port
• OLPC partners with Amazon, ITU
• "cJTAG" debuts
• First $100 laptop runs Linux
• First Linux on Everest
• Dell ships Ubuntu- and Atom-based netbook
• Smallest x86 board ever?
• MontaVista Vision gains focus
• "Olympics" phone runs Linux
• Android Challenge winners push location awareness
• Atmel-based industrial SBC runs Linux
• Atom squeezes onto Pico-ITX board
• Via frees Chrome graphics driver source
• Webinar dissects Linux multicore migration


Most popular stories -- past 90 days:
• Open source phone goes mass-market
• Updated! Linux Mobile Phones Showcase
• World's cheapest Linux-based laptop?
• Garmin Nav devices run Gnome Linux
• First Atom-based notebook runs Linux
• ARM9 board boots Debian in 0.69 seconds
• Open source camera records geotagged video to SATA HDD
• Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150
• "PDA phone" runs Linux
• Intel offers $80 "Little Falls" Atom mobo
• Netflix Player runs Linux


DesktopLinux headlines:
• OSCON 2008 presentations, videos posted
• Debian distro named for little green man
• Google spins web browser
• Summit debuts for Linux end users
• "UbuntuLite" reviewed
• Linux in the SME
• Linux: not yet photo-friendly
• Linux to gain anti-virus software
• Linux gains backup utility
• Testing Lenny


Also visit our sister site:


Sign up for LinuxDevices.com's...

news feed

Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  About  |  Contact
 

Ziff Davis Enterprise Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters
Tech RSS Feeds | White Papers | ROI Calculators | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | VARs | Channel News

Baseline | Careers | Channel Insider | CIO Insight | DesktopLinux | DeviceForge | DevSource | eSeminars |
eWEEK | Enterprise Network Security | LinuxDevices | Linux Watch | Microsoft Watch | Mid-market | Networking | PDF Zone |
Publish | Security IT Hub | Strategic Partner | Web Buyer's Guide | Windows for Devices

Developer Shed | Dev Shed | ASP Free | Dev Articles | Dev Hardware | SEO Chat | Tutorialized | Scripts |
Code Walkers | Web Hosters | Dev Mechanic | Dev Archives | igrep

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.