Sequans announces new WiMAX system-in-package

4G World 2010, CHICAGO, USA: 4G chipmaker Sequans unveiled its latest Mobile WiMAX solution, the SQN1280, an all-in-one WiMAX system-in-package (SIP) for makers of handsets, tablets, USB sticks, portable hotspots, M2M modules, and a variety of consumer electronics devices.

The SQN1280 combines Sequans’ SQN1210 Mobile WiMAX system-on-chip (SOC) with all other components necessary to deliver a complete WiMAX solution in a single, small package.

Delivered fully tested, shielded, and calibrated, the SQN1280’s integrated components include a complete radio front end, power management, memory, clocks, and software. The SQN1280 is a complete and powerful WiMAX solution, enabling manufacturers to add WiMAX connectivity quickly to almost any device, with very fast time to market and very low development cost.

“We are excited to offer this new and comprehensive WiMAX solution to manufacturers,” said Craig Miller, Sequans’ vice-president of marketing and business development. “It is a powerful and simple solution that embeds virtually everything needed for a total WiMAX system, significantly reducing hardware and software integration time and development cost. The SQN1280 enables Internet connectivity at 4G speeds to be very quickly added to a wide range of devices such as smart meters, machine-to-machine modules, digital cameras, as well as handsets, tablets, notebook PCs, and USB dongles.”

According to Phil Solis, research director at ABI Research, there exists a strong market for WiMAX-enabled consumer electronics.

"Device vendors who want to get WiMAX products to market faster will naturally gravitate towards highly integrated solutions,” said Solis. “There exists a mostly untapped opportunity around M2M, smart grid solutions, and especially mobile consumer electronics. In addition, there are opportunities for existing companies and newer entrants to compete around USB modems and a wide range of mobile computing devices as key WiMAX service providers increase their network coverage."

SQN1280 is based on Sequans’ SQN1210 SOC --- a highly integrated Mobile WiMAX semiconductor solution -– an operator-approved architecture now running in major WiMAX networks worldwide.

The SQN1280 integrates a radio front end that is engineered for co-existence with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 2G/3G cellular technologies. It supports the 2.5-2.7 GHz band, two antennas, and embeds a PA, LNAs, filters, RF switches, LDOs, DC to DC converter, 32 kHz crystal, TCXO, SDRAM and Flash. All this comes in a very small 17.7 x 17.7 mm package.

SQN1280 is delivered with Sequans’ comprehensive software package, S3MAX, comprising USB and SDIO drivers for multiple operating systems, a WiMAX Forum-compliant authentication engine, an OMA-DM client, and an advanced diagnostic and monitoring tool. The SQN1280 requires minimal design work and offers easy software integration with host CPUs. It is fully tested and pre-calibrated, and is WiMAX Forum Certified.