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Fujitsu Leads Project Team to Deliver WiMAX VoIP Devices to Smile
Communications to Serve Developing Countries
Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited and
Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited
June 8, 2009
Tokyo, Japan, Johannesburg, South Africa and Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
2nd June 2009 – Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited and Smile Telecoms
Holdings Limited today announced the
realisation of the world’s first WiMAX (*1)
Voice-over-IP (VoIP) (*2) phone and service for developing countries,
enabled through the creation of an eco-system encompassing mobile
carrier, handset, semiconductor and module partners. Fujitsu
Microelectronics led technology partners in collaboration with Smile
Communications Ltd., a subsidiary of Smile Telecoms Holdings, to produce
a ground-breaking VoIP phone and service, which are set to
revolutionise communications in developing markets
by bringing affordable communications to underserved customers in
Africa. This low-cost voice service is enabled through voice
transmission over Internet Protocol (IP). |
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Fujitsu Microelectronics is exhibiting
the technology that enables the new WiMAX VoIP phone at the WiMAX Forum
Global Congress 09 in Amsterdam, from June 2-3 (Stand No. 3.22).
Fujitsu Microelectronics was instrumental in initiating and driving the
creation of this business eco-system. In addition, Fujitsu
Microelectronics is providing the WiMAX chipset for the VoIP handset.
The chipset is a second-generation WiMAX solution consisting of a
low-power WiMAX baseband system-on-chip (SoC), triple-band RF
transceiver, and an optimised power-management chip including WiMAX-certified
protocol stacks and proprietary connection manager.
Smile Communications will deploy the first WiMAX terminals with its
network launch in Uganda. “Smile’s vision is to enable consumers in
developing countries to communicate easily and affordably, and our
partnership with the designers and manufacturers, in particular Fujitsu
Microelectronics, in terms of developing a low-cost handset that
features innovative technological design is instrumental in Smile
achieving this vision. Their R&D excellence, rapid design and
manufacturing capabilities and strong project management expertise have
enabled us to produce a unique product in record time at a very
competitive cost”, said Irene Charnley, CEO of Smile Telecoms Holdings.
Other key partners for this WiMAX VoIP phone, and their contributions,
include the following: Sychip Inc. contributed its mature VoIP silicon
and VoIP software stack tailored to Fujitsu Microelectronics’ WiMAX
core; FDK Corp. created a small form-factor module for the WiMAX
chipset, and I-Sirius Pte. Ltd. provided its expertise in system
integration and the development and manufacturing of low-cost
communication terminals.
The partners were inspired by a common vision for enabling ubiquitous
communication in developing countries, with the result being a fully
optimised communication system that is the first of its kind to come to
market - a cost-effective, low-power WiMAX VoIP phone optimised for the
needs of developing markets. This unique solution combining WiMAX and
VoIP allows services to be pioneered in new regions and opens up new
markets and uses.
“Fujitsu Microelectronics is proud to be associated with this ambitious
and important project to help address the Digital divide in areas with
great need. The excellent co-operation between Fujitsu Microelectronics,
Sychip, FDK and I-Sirius was the key factor that enabled us to meet
Smile Communications’ narrow time-to-market window”, said Makoto ‘Mac’
Awaga, general manager, Mobile Solutions Division at Fujitsu
Microelectronics Limited.
The first terminal will be a battery-driven desktop phone with Linux OS
and simple user interface. Based on the success of this partnership,
more dedicated VoIP products including full mobile terminals using the
same core technologies, will follow. |
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