Packaging
RFMD(R) Announces POLARIS(R) 3 Silver
Wednesday 13. February 2008 - Strong Growth Is Forecasted For POLARIS(R) 3 TOTAL RADIO(TM) RF Solutions
RF Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high- performance radio systems and solutions, today announced POLARIS(R) 3 Silver – the newest edition to the POLARIS family of GSM/GPRS/EDGE Total Radio(TM) RF solutions. POLARIS 3 Silver leverages the performance advantages of POLARIS 3 and features RFMD’s patent pending MicroShield(TM) integrated RF shielding. RFMD recently commenced high-volume shipments of POLARIS 3 and now forecasts strong growth of POLARIS 3 in calendar year 2008.
Since the introduction of POLARIS 1 in 2004, RFMD has become a leading supplier of complete GSM/GPRS/EDGE RF systems. The Company’s highly integrated, ultra-compact POLARIS 3 RF solution integrates all the necessary functions of the RF section of quad-band EDGE cellular handsets, including the power amplifier, SAW filters, crystal oscillator, switch and transceiver. The innovative antenna-to-baseband TOTAL RADIO(TM) implementation of POLARIS 3 quickly and cost-effectively solves complex customer challenges related to the development and deployment of EDGE cellular handset platforms. This unparalleled ease-of-use allows manufacturers to get mobile devices to market faster and with less RF design effort. With the addition of RFMD’s MicroShield Integrated RF Shielding, POLARIS 3 Silver delivers POLARIS 3 performance without sensitivity to board placement and at a significant reduction in both product volume and profile.
RFMD’s POLARIS 3 Silver RF solution leverages RFMD’s deep systems-level design expertise and unrivaled portfolio of enabling technologies. POLARIS 3 Silver features RFMD’s proven large signal polar modulation (LSPM) architecture and includes new, innovative technologies, including MicroShield and proprietary circuit technologies that improve total radiated power (TRP) performance. POLARIS 3 Silver is assembled and tested at RFMD’s recently expanded Beijing, China, facility.
Eric Creviston, president of RFMD’s Cellular Handset Product Group (CPG), said, “POLARIS 3 Silver extends the value proposition for our POLARIS RF Solutions by adding the clear benefits of MicroShield Integrated RF Shielding to the proven performance of POLARIS 3. In handset applications, MicroShield technology can eliminate traditional RF shielding and enable highly complex RF modules that are insensitive to board placement, which is a critical factor in the implementation of high-volume handset platforms. Handset manufacturers using MicroShield technology can enjoy the benefits of improved RF performance, lower total cost, reduced board space requirements and overall ease of RF implementation.”
Production of POLARIS 3 commenced in the September 2007 quarter, and POLARIS 3 shipments continue to grow. Based upon current customer activity, RFMD forecasts growth of POLARIS 3 in the March 2008 quarter and strong growth throughout calendar year 2008. RFMD’s POLARIS RF solutions command approximately three times the dollar content of EDGE cellular front ends.
RFMD will showcase its industry-leading portfolio of cellular front end products at the 2008 GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 11-14, 2008, in Hall 8, Stand 8B79.