Fujitsu Microelectronics and Smile Telecoms Holdings have
announced the realization of the world's first WiMAX Voice-over-IP
(VoIP) phone and services for developing countries by creating
complete eco-system covering mobile carrier, handset, and
semiconductor and module partners. Fujitsu Microelectronics
led technology partners in collaboration with Smile Communications
Ltd., a subsidiary of Smile Telecoms Holdings, to produce
a VoIP phone to offer WiMAX based low cost phone services
in developing countries.
Fujitsu is exhibiting this new WiMAX VoIP phone at the
WiMAX Forum Global Congress 09 going on in Amsterdam, from
June 2-3, 2009.
Fujitsu Microelectronics has provided the WiMAX chipset
for the VoIP handset, which consists of a low-power WiMAX
baseband system-on-chip (SoC), triple-band RF transceiver,
and a power-management chip including 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 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 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 optimized communication system that
is the first of its kind to come to market - a cost-effective,
low-power WiMAX VoIP phone optimized 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
cooperation between Fujitsu Microelectronics, Sychip, FDK
and I-Sirius was the key factor which enabled us to meet
Smile Communications narrow time-to-market window"
said Makoto "Mac" Awaga, general manager, Mobile
Solutions Division at Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited.
