Qualcomm introduces world's first universal mobile TV chip

Qualcomm introduces world's first universal mobile TV chip

Qualcomm

MUMBAI: Qualcomm Incorporated, a developer and innovator of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, today announced its single-chip Universal Broadcast Modem (UBM) solution supporting three of the world's leading mobile broadcast standards.

The UBM solution unifies the world's leading mobile TV standards into a single, cost-effective chip with support for FLO technology, as well as for Digital Video Broadcasting -- Handheld (DVB-H) and one-segment Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting -- Terrestrial (ISDB-T), creating a common platform that handset manufacturers can leverage to address multiple standards.

"Mobile TV on handsets is gaining momentum in the wireless industry, even as network operators continue to evaluate the various standards available. Our UBM solution addresses the industry's need by providing a single universal chip that supports three of the world's leading standards, enabling mobile handsets to receive real-time content regardless of the broadcast technology selected by operators," said Qualcomm CDMA Technologies vice president of strategic products Mike Concannon.

The UBM solution includes support for FLO, which is part of the MediaFLO system, DVB-H, and one-segment implementations of ISDB-T to address the needs of network operators in Europe, Asia, North America and elsewhere for the deployment of mobile broadcast services. The UBM solution offers a high level of integration to deliver a single-chip FLO solution for the North American market that also includes specific enhancements necessary for deployment outside of North America.

The UBM is designed as a companion to Qualcomm's Mobile Station Modem (MSM) baseband chipsets, but also can be used with other products. The UBM leverages the processing power of the Enhanced Multimedia and Convergence Platforms, eliminating the need for additional dedicated application processors for more power-efficient devices with smaller form-factors.

Specific performance features of the UBM solution include:

Support for the entire UHF bandwidth -- 470 to 862 MHz;
Tunable modes 5, 6, 7 and 8 MHz channel bandwidths;
Support for single- and multi-frequency networks.
Designed to be compatible with both CDMA2000 and WCDMA/UMTS devices, the UBM solution is expected to sample in the first quarter of 2007.