In brief: Anadigics, Finisar, Skyworks and Cermet
Raining PAs at CTIA
Aside from presentations by not one, but two former US Presidents waxing lyrical about the merits of wireless technologies, the CTIA Wireless trade show in Orlando, FL, was notable for the launch of a variety of new RFIC products from GaAs chip manufacturers.
Anadigics says that its "revolutionary" power amplifier (PA) for CDMA cell phones yields a dramatic decrease in power consumption.
In fact, claims the Warren, NJ, firm, the power consumption decreases to zero when a handset only needs to transmit at a very low power, for example in a fully populated network.
Called the "ZeroIC", the new PA is said to cut average current consumption by 50 percent when compared with Anadigics' existing HELP PAs.
Anadigics uses its InGaP-plus manufacturing process, which combines HBT and PHEMT functions on the same chip, to make the RFICs that sit at the heart of the ZeroIC.
Other products debuting CTIA included a new front-end module for mobile WiMAX connectivity from Skyworks Solutions. Featuring InGaP HBT and PHEMT switch technology, the SKY77528 operates at 2.5 GHz.
Not to be out-done, RF Micro Devices also released two new PA modules - the low-cost RF3198 PowerStar for dual-band handsets and the RF3161 quad-band EDGE design for 3G applications.
Finisar ships 10 million transceivers
Optoelectronic chip and module manufacturer Finisar says that it shipped 10 million transceivers in 2006, which is claimed to be an industry record.
The figure represents a 30 percent increase on the number shipped in 2005, and also signals the company's successful penetration of the metropolitan telecoms business.
Finisar is also expanding its addressable markets across the optical datacom and telecom sectors. It recently acquired chip maker AZNA, and is now in the process of buying the transceiver supplier Kodeos Communications.
Cermet adds Rylance to advisors
Wide-bandgap materials development company Cermet has added Bruce Rylance to its advisory board.
A successful sales and marketing executive, Rylance previously worked at the sapphire substrate specialist Rubicon Technology. A key focus of his appointment at Cermet will be the penetration of the Asian market, says the company.
