February 14, 2012 Broadcom is extending its push for 802.11ac (“5G WiFi”) into the enterprise and carrier space with the launch of its 3x3 BCM43460 system-on-chip (SoC), which it claims is three times faster and six times more power efficient than previous generation 802.11an devices. Read more

February 1, 2012 The Wi-Fi chipset market continues to march forward at a brisk pace as a growing number of consumer electronics are integrating Wi-Fi. As the demand for devices with Wi-Fi connectivity grows, and as prices for chipsets decrease, new markets for Wi-Fi are opening in areas traditionally dominated by other wireless connectivity standards. Read more

December 14, 2011 ST-Ericsson is pleased to announce that Sharp has announced three smartphones in Japan based on the ST-Ericsson Thor™ M5730 modem. With its low power consumption, this highly-integrated 21 Mbps Thor modem will enable consumers to spend more time surfing the Internet at high-speeds and less time worrying about charging the battery. Read more

December 14, 2011 Commenting on the ICO's call for a rethink on location privacy, Cryptzone says that geo-location tagging security issues are likely to be a major issue in 2012 - and that many users of smartphones are unaware of the potentially serious security consequences of their use of the technology. Read more

December 12, 2011 Chinese fabless semiconductor firm Spreadtrum Communications, Inc., has released two low-cost, 600 MHz Android smartphone platforms, made on a 40-nm process, aimed at ultra-cheap smartphones in the $40-50 range. Read more

November 25, 2011 Dialog Semiconductor plc has started shipping a power management and audio IC for use by Samsung in Android smartphones, initially targeting the China TD-SCDMA market. Read more

November 16, 2011 Smartphones and tablets are becoming devices of choice for consumers. With increasing mobility advantage offered by these devices, consumers have come to expect a high standard of network connectivity at all times. As a result, the data traffic has increased from 0.24 exabytes/ month in 2010 to 0.6 exabytes/ month in 2011. Read more

November 2, 2011 The increasing processing power pushed by the smartphone market finally enables an upgrade path to automotive and mobile devices, to avoid the need for specialized DSPs. EtherWaves has just announced a new version of its ClearSignal software based DAB/DMB solution that executes on Linux-based OS's, such as those used for automotive In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI), for mobile devices and for tablet computers. Read more

November 1, 2011 Canonical Ltd., is working on versions of its Ubuntu version of Linux for smartphones, tablets and intelligent embedded devices. Read more

October 28, 2011 Toyota and Ford have the most successful integration of car infotainment systems with mobile devices like smartphones, according to an IHS iSuppli Automotive Research report. Read more

October 19, 2011 The booming growth expected in mobile devices through at least 2016 will drive a corresponding explosion in mobile processor growth, according to an analyst. Read more

September 21, 2011 According to a report from Strategy Analytics, Qualcomm took 51.5% revenue share in the smart phone applications processor market in Q2 of this year. Qualcomm, Samsung, TI, Marvell and Nvidia featured in the top 5 in both shipment and revenue, and despite TI’s strong OMAP family it fell to number three in the rankings overall. Read more

September 19, 2011 A proof-of-concept stage "subconscious mode" for smartphones and other WiFi-enabled mobile devices could extend battery life by as much as 54 percent for users on the busiest networks, described in a paper titled "E-MiLi: Energy-Minimizing Idle Listening in Wireless Networks." Read more

September 19, 2011 STMicroelectronics has unveiled two chips for controlling antenna power in mainstream 3G wireless products. The devices are more than 83% smaller than earlier components and improve energy efficiency to maximize battery life for always-on-the-go consumers and business users. Today's multi-function, multi-band cellphones and smartphones, as well as tablets and 3G USB dongles, continuously adjust their transmitter power to optimize contact with the network as environmental conditions change. Read more

September 7, 2011 A new app called Dual EE, which operates on the Android operating system, has demonstrated full compatibility with ST’s M24LR64 wireless memory. The app connects an NFC-enabled smartphone to a prototype temperature recorder featuring ST’s M24LR64 wireless memory and demonstrates data transfer and storage. Read more

September 5, 2011 The market for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in consumer electronics and mobile communications devices is on pace for record growth in 2011, thanks to the red hot media tablet and smartphone markets, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli. Read more

August 30, 2011 By 2016, smartphones with touchscreens will account for 97 percent of all smartphone volume, up from 75 percent in 2010, according to market research firm ABI Research Inc. Read more

August 3, 2011 Multitest has added a new application to its MEMS test and calibration product line.  With the new application, 3D earth magnetic field sensors can be used for innovative mobile applications and state-of-the-art navigation applications without the use of a GPS. Read more

July 27, 2011 Ten cellphone chip makers have licensed the Chip-to Chip Link (C2C) specification developed by Arteris Inc., and Texas Instruments. C2C is one of three low latency interconnects TI helped develop to let applications processors and modems share memory. Read more

June 23, 2011 Ford Motor Company claims to have tamed voice recognition with the latest version of its Sync technol­ogy by upping the number of com­mands a hundredfold while simplifying their grammar. Read more

June 22, 2011 After decades of interest and false starts, 3D is finally becoming a mainstream technology through gaming and video content. Not only will this have an impact on traditional home CE devices, but mobile devices as well. These media consumption devices including handheld game consoles, smartphones, and tablets will drive demand for image sensors, a key technology component for 3D, over 130 percent by 2015, says In-Stat. Read more

June 20, 2011 Startup Naratte Inc., has disclosed a technique for sending information via ultrasound using existing speakers and microphones in consumer devices such as smartphones. It is working with partners to enable applications such as mobile payments. Read more

June 16, 2011 NXP Semiconductors' near field communication (NFC) technology has been selected by Sony Ericsson for inclusion in its Android-based smartphones. Read more

June 1, 2011 ALPS Electric Europe GmbH has developed the HSCDTD004A geomagnetic sensor enabling electronic compass functions in smartphones and tablet PCs. Read more

May 30, 2011 As Google launched its 'Google Wallet' application for Android smartphones NXP has stressed that it is NXP technology and chips that are enabling the application. Read more

May 20, 2011 The Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) recently held a panel session focused on the challenges in attracting young talent to the field of A/MS (analogue and mixed-signal) design, finding that the responsibility of cultivating an environment where Europe’s A/MS industry and its talent can flourish should be shared. Read more

May 18, 2011 Nujira, the leading developer of technology to reduce power consumption in smartphone transmitters by 30 to 50 percent, has secured a further £10 million of funding for its growth plans. Read more

May 13, 2011 The latest Ofcom research reveals that the next generation of mobile technology will deliver more than 200 percent of the capacity of existing 3G technologies, using the same amount of spectrum. Read more

May 4, 2011 NetLogic Microsystems has introduced the latest member of its XLP® processor family, the XLP316 processor which features a best-in-class quad-core, 16-issue, 16-threaded, superscalar processor architecture at up to 2.0 GHz with out-of-order execution and superior L3 cache to address the most demanding control-plane processing requirements in communications, networking, storage and security applications. Read more

April 20, 2011 A handful of vendors is organizing a new trade group to promote computer vision as a killer app for tomorrow's smartphones and tablets. The Embedded Vision Alliance will formally debut in May. Read more

April 12, 2011 The Oak Trail version of Intel's Atom processor is shipping and finding its way into netbooks and tablets. Intel plans a follow version, a 32-nm dual-core Atom processor called Cedar Trail that integrates all system I/O and will ship before the end of the year. Read more

April 1, 2011 By 2016, 45 percent of all smartphones worldwide will be running Google's Android operating system, according to market research firm ABI Research. Read more

March 9, 2011 RF Micro Devices has announced the expansion of its leading 5-GHz WiFi product portfolio to include three new 5-GHz high-band WiFi front end modules (FEMs) with integrated power amplifiers (PAs). Read more

February 23, 2011 There will be an installed base of 140 million Android portable devices, including smartphones and tablets, by the end of 2011, according to a forecast from IMS Research. Read more

February 10, 2011 Nearly 101 million smartphones shipped globally during the fourth quarter of 2010, more than the number of PCs that shipped in the quarter, according to market research firm International Data Corp. (IDC). Read more

February 9, 2011 ST-Ericsson is launching a power management solution that significantly reduces the charging time for mobile devices from a wall socket. This innovation is part of ST-Ericsson's latest PowerHUB™ family of products that will also harvest energy from a wide range of sources, making it quicker for people to charge their mobile devices, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Read more

February 9, 2011 A leaked memo by Nokia's new chief executive, Stephen Elop, warns that the company's future hangs in the balance. It mentions an announcement expected on Friday 11th February, that will outline the company's smartphone strategy for the near future, in a bid to regain market share and consumer loyalty - both of which are ebbing away in the face of competition from Apple and Android-based phones. Read more

January 19, 2011 There has been a major shift in the cell phone market, with smartphones gaining prominence over feature phones in the past few years. The paradigm shift in phones has created market opportunities for other consumer products, such as e-readers and tablet computers. Read more

January 12, 2011 iMovee Corp., has launched Mobeo, an advanced wireless pocket streamer that enables broadcast mobile TV on any WiFi enabled device, smartphone or tablet. Mobeo brings “Telefusion” to smartphones and tablets by combining Live Broadcast TV, live streaming TV/VOD and Social Media networks. Read more

January 6, 2011 Electronic compasses can now be built with a magnetometer that Freescale Semiconductor claims is smaller and less power-hungry than competing devices. The Xtrinsic MAG3110 is a three-axis device that can determine headings for navigation, dead-reckoning indoors and a range of emerging location-based services (LBSes) for smartphones and other mobile devices. Read more

January 6, 2011 AT&T is accelerating its plans to roll out LTE services and Android-based smartphones. The news comes in the wake of archrival Verizon turning on LTE services in early December, and rumors Verizon will offer a next-generation Apple iPhone soon. Read more

November 16, 2010 Elan Digital Systems announces the immediate availability of its two new bridge chips designed to support latest tablet smartphones and other mobile system designs – the USBHC869 and the VUB300. Read more

October 26, 2010 Everything from silicon chipsets to software to services is being reshaped by mobility. Smartphones will continue to be the innovation driver in mobile processor technology, particularly with the integration of multiple cores, GPUs and baseband modems. While there will be some convergence of devices and usage models, consumer patterns and the history of the high-tech market indicate that the total number of mobile devices will continue to expand, increasing the TAM of mobile processors to nearly 4 billion by 2014, says In-Stat. Read more

October 6, 2010 ST-Ericsson has launched a power-efficient and compact HSPA+ modem capable of transmitting data at speeds of up to 21 Mbps. With up to fifty per cent lower power consumption than competing HSPA+ 21 Mbps modems available on the market, the highly-integrated M5730 will enable engineers to produce small, affordable and power-efficient HSPA+ smartphones, USB-dongles and embedded modules. Read more

September 15, 2010 IMS Research has just come out with figures estimating that the number of connected devices to the Internet has reached an important milestone of 5 Billion. Further, their latest forecast is for 22 billion Internet connected devices by 2020, which is one of the more conservative estimates in the industry. Read more

September 13, 2010 Nokia's new president and chief executive Stephen Elop faces five challenges, according to one analyst. The company needs to become more nimble, and refocus on high-end smartphones, applications processors, its app store and its U.S. business, said Satish Menon of market watcher Forward Concepts. Read more

September 1, 2010 Help may be on the way for iPhone 4 users frustrated by dropped calls with the arrival of Radio Frequency Microelectromechanical Systems (RF MEMS), semiconductors that can improve the performance of antennas in cell phones, according to the market research firm iSuppli Corp. Read more

August 17, 2010 An informal poll of cable-TV executives voted a pico cell product by BelAir Networks the most promising new product shown at the group's twice yearly technical conference. The choice was outside the home networking area that was the dominant theme at the CableLabs Summer Conference where the poll was taken. Read more

August 6, 2010 Use of Google Inc.'s Android operating system (OS) is set to surpass that of Apple Inc.'s iOS by 2012, according to a forecast release Thursday (Aug. 5) by market research firm iSuppli Corp. Read more

July 14, 2010 As vendors race for revenues on wireless networks, expect to see smartphones that try to replace PCs, handsets hosting separate consumer and business clients and lots more video. Those were some of the ideas from execs at the Mobilebeat 2010 conference. Read more

June 15, 2010 The Continua Health Alliance is developing a software library of source code to run medical applications on select smartphones. The work is being done in partnership with Vignet, a medical software developer. Read more

March 16, 2010 Smartphone sales surged 25 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to sales in the previous quarter with Apple, Nokia and Research in Motion all riding the wave. The rise represents a particularly sharp rebound from generally depressed sales last year, said an analyst from ABI Research. Read more