Arasan announces design win with Comsys Mobile

SAN JOSE, USA: Arasan Chip Systems Inc. announced that Comsys Mobile, a leading fabless semiconductor vendor specializing in communications processors for 4G mobile devices, has taken a license for Arasan's SDIO Version 2.0 Device IP Core, which supports a wide range of portable low-power applications such as 802.11 devices, GPS, WiMAX, UWB, among others.

Comsys Mobile is incorporating the SDIO 2.0 IP in its ComMAX line of mobile WiMAX communications processors including the CM1125: the only single-chip multimode mobile WiMAX/GSM-EDGE communication processor on the market today.

In 2008, the number of fixed and mobile WiMAX subscribers hit 3.9 million, up 120 percent from CY07, stated Infonetics Research, a Campbell, California-based, market research firm.

Starting from a small base, sales of 802.16e mobile WiMAX devices (Ultra Mobile PCs, phones, and external data cards) grew 121 percent in 2008. Wireless 20/20, an independent market research and consulting company, stated that operators with both GSM and WiMAX networks and WiMAX operators in countries with significant GSM coverage will need dual mode devices to provide advanced data and voice services in both their initial WiMAX coverage areas and traditional coverage areas.

"Arasan's SDIO Version 2.0 Device IP Core has contributed to the rapid development of our CM1125 multimode mobile WiMAX/GSM-EDGE chipset," said Ehud Reshef, Director for WiMAX Product Marketing at Comsys Mobile.

"This, together with our commitment to provide end-to-end solutions that include form-factor handset reference designs incorporating a complete pre-integrated ecosystem, enable OEM/ODMs to address the market's immediate demands for Smartphones and other full mobile devices that support both mobile WiMAX and GSM-EDGE."

"We are delighted that Comsys Mobile chose the Arasan SDIO IP core," said Rich Timpa, Senior Vice President at Arasan.

"The SDIO Device IP Core is fully compliant with the SDIO Specification version 2.0 Part E1. It supports SPI, SD1, and SD4 bit transfer modes, and 7 functions per card. High-speed and full-speed SD data transfers are also supported. Other supported version 2.0 features are SDHC, SDHS, miniSDIO, embedded SDIO ATA standard function interface code, and extended 2.7 to 3.6V-operating voltage. Thus, Comsys Mobile can concentrate on building the best multimode WiMAX/GSM-EDGE solution, confident that their SDIO interface works."