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September 13th, 2005
TechnoConcepts Inc. (OTCBB:TCPS) has reported that it has entered
into an agreement with China’s largest semiconductor and chip design company, China Electronics Corporation (CEC). As
part of the agreement, TechnoConcepts’ patented RF/D technology will be integrated into cellular handsets manufactured
by CEC’s subsidiaries. TechnoConcepts will receive a license fee on each handset manufactured. License fee revenues
is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007.
Techno’s RF to Digital technology will permit triple play
services for 3G cell phone users. Cell phone users, with phones based on the technology, will be able to select different
network connections to receive voice, data or video – anyplace and anytime. The company indicated that the technology
would enable mobile phone users to have service even in disaster situations such as Hurricane Katrina.
CEC Wireless ("CECW") and/or Great Wall Computer will manufacture
the 3G handsets, which are expected to be produced in high volume. According to Antonio Turgeon, chairman and CEO of TechnoConcepts,
"While our technology has been successfully demonstrated for major electronics manufacturers in both China and South Korea,
this agreement with CEC marks a significant milestone for Techno as it is the first agreement which calls for our technology
to be incorporated into a consumer device for large scale distribution."
Mr. Turgeon added more market details, "We believe our technology
will ultimately be incorporated in numerous communication applications and devices to be manufactured and distributed by many
of the world's largest companies to be used by millions of people all over the world. But today's announcement is in many
ways is a 'bull's-eye' for Techno. It is for deployment of our technology in the largest vertical market (cellular phones)
we have identified, by the largest IT Company in China, in the largest market (China) in the world. There is no mistaking
that China is the growth engine for telecommunications and 3G technologies. Estimates are that China adds approximately five
million mobile-phone users each month."
China Electronics Corporation, which sold over 20 million cell phones
in 2004, employs approximately 34,000 employees.
August 30th, 2005
Globes, an Israeli publisher reported that Asocs LTD. a multi-standard wireless fabless
semiconductor company has raised $8 million. The funding according to the publication came from Fujitsu Ltd and two venture
capital funds. Globes, which confirmed the report with the company, also reported that Fujitsu will also manufactured the
Asocs processor and will incorporate the processor in its handsets. Additionally the two companies will market the processor
to other cell phone companies.
What differentiates the cellular phone processor is that it can adapt to different regional
cellular phone standards. This would give cell phones built on the processor the capability to be used anywhere in the world.
The company also indicates that its technology can be adapted to wireless LAN standards, furthering the possibilities of lower
cost global cellular communications.
August 17th, 2005
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Silver Lake Partners have
signed an agreement with announced with Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) to acquire the company’s Semiconductor
Products Group (SPG). The purchase prices is expected to be $2.66 billion, just a little over the unit’s $2 billion
in revenue in 2004.
Dick Chang, who is presently president of SPG and is to also oversee
the new unit, which presently has 6,600 employees, indicated that the separation from Agilent would be a positive move for
the chip division, "This transaction provides an exciting platform for SPG to grow and thrive as a stand-alone enterprise.
The New SPG will build on the strength of its existing business platform and take advantage of strategic growth opportunities
around the world. We will be better positioned to focus on developing new products, increasing market share, and securing
our role among the technology leaders in the semiconductor industry." Dr. Chang added that the buyout would be perceived as
positive by both customers and employees, "This is good news for our customers and employees, as this transaction is a strong
endorsement of our business model and financial strength. We are looking forward to a constructive partnership with KKR and
Silver Lake, two of the world's most accomplished private equity firms."
The acquisition is expected to be completed soon, by the end
Agilent's fiscal year, October 31, 2005.
August 17th, 2005
Agilent Technologies with the announcement of its third fiscal quarter
ended July 31, 2005 reported evidence of a rebound in semiconductor related markets. One of those signs was a bottoming of
wireless test. For its third quarter, Agilent reported that its semiconductor revenue was $450 million, down from the $458
million it recorded for the same quarter last year, but up sequentially from the second quarter of 2005, which came in at
$414 million.
Orders were up on a year-over-year and sequential basis. For the
third quarter of fiscal 2005, orders for semiconductors came in at $499 million, compared to $399 million for the year ago
quarter and $464 million for its second quarter of 2005.
Agilent attributed the rise in semiconductor orders to personal
systems, noting strength in wireless components and navigation products. Personal system orders increased 37 percent year-over-year.
Network orders were up 2 percent and the company’s book-to-bill ratio reached 1.11 compared to 0.87 a year ago and 1.12
for its second quarter of 2005.
August 12th, 2005
WiSpry Operations Expand Into New Facility –
Open-House Scheduled for August 16th
WiSpry, Inc., a company with tunable RF-MEMS technology for the wireless
industry, has moved into a new location. The new location, a 7,000 square foot facility, is the new home to the over 20 employees
at the company. Commenting on the new facility was CEO of WiSpry, Jeff Hilbert, "The new location is centrally located in
Orange County, with easy access for employees and customers from two major highways and is ideally located to attract the
top talent that Orange County has to offer."
The new building, which is located at 20 Fairbanks, Irvine, California,
includes a state-of-the-art custom built RF lab used for the development of WiSpry's RF-MEMS-based switch and filter components
and modules.
WiSpry will be hosting an Open House at the new facility on August
16th at 5.00 p.m.
August 8th, 2005
Analog Devices Estimates Lower Revenue from Wireless Handsets – Suggests Gradual Recovery Next Quarter
Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI) has reported preliminary estimates for
its fiscal third quarter ended July 30, 2005. The company estimates that sales for that quarter will be in the range
of $580 million to $585 million, down in the order of 3 percent to 4 percent from the prior quarter. The estimate is also
down from previous guidance given May 12, 2005, which anticipated growth in the order of 0 percent to 3 percent.
Analog Devices indicated that the revised downward estimate is a result
of a projected $23 million decline in sales of GSM/GPRS base band chips from Asian wireless handset customers. The company
also reported that wireless handsets contributed about 10 percent of total revenue in the third quarter.
Mr. Jerald Fishman, President and CEO at Analog Devices explained
further and suggested a recovery in wireless handset sales, "Although the communications market was generally weak, the revised
outlook is primarily related to lower sales of GSM/GPRS chipsets to Asian customers who continue to struggle against increased
global competition. As these customers begin to supply more feature-rich phones this fall, we believe that our wireless handset
revenue will begin to recover. “
In regard to Analog Devices other product markets he added, "Most
other application areas performed largely according to our third quarter plan. The industrial end markets grew sequentially
with strength in broad-based industrial products offset by declines in automatic test equipment (ATE) and automotive. Revenue
from computer and consumer customers also grew in the third quarter compared to the immediately prior quarter. In line with
normal seasonal patterns, our analog product revenue was approximately flat in the third quarter compared to the immediately
prior quarter, after growing over 6% sequentially in the second quarter compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2005."
Mr. Fishman noted that order rates had increased in the third quarter,
specifically in July, "Order rates increased in the third quarter, above second quarter levels, and were very strong in July.
As a result, we began the fourth quarter with higher backlog than at the start of the third quarter. We continue to believe
that overall, we are in a gradual recovery that began six months ago."
August 8th, 2005
Nujira Raises $7.75 Million in Series A – to Address Cellular Power Efficiency
Nujira Ltd, based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, has completed a
$7.75 million Series A funding round for its power amplifier intellectual property. The company’s technology is structured
towards improving the power efficiency of cellular networks that are based on emerging and advanced cellular modulation techniques.
Investors in the round included 3I. Amadeus Capital Partners, Cambridge Gateway Fund, Cambridge Capital Group and the Cambridge
Angels.
In order to improve the power consumption of the cellular infrastructure
and potentially handsets, Nujira has developed High Accuracy Tracking (HAT)Modulators for WCMDA, CDMA2000 or WiMAX base stations.
The HAT modulators are reported to overcome the power efficiency limitations associated with these three types of wireless
systems.
According to Barak Maoz of Amadeus Capital Partners, who was appointed
to Nujira’s board, "Nujira's high power HAT technology for very high efficiency power amplifiers presents a compelling
solution for 3G cellular base station OEMs. Their HAT Modulators are the cornerstone of OEM's attempts to achieve 30% - 50%
power amplifier efficiency. These levels of performance offer significant cost savings for network operators and system integrators
as they seek ways of reducing operating costs while expanding network capacity."
Ian Lobley of 3I, who also joined Nujira’s board, indicated
the Nujira has already won over potential customers with its technology, "Nujira has anticipated the need for efficiency in
emerging wireless standards and, having demonstrated its technology to leading OEMs, is now entering into contracts. As data
rates continue to increase and power consumption in infrastructure and devices becomes more of an issue, Nujira's technology
offers a path to improved efficiency for manufacturers."
Nujira indicated in its announcement that the base station market,
according to analysts, was in the order of 1.8 million units in 2004 and is expected to grow to 3.5 million units in 2009.
Nujira reports that its power amplifier intellectual property has been initially targeted at the Cellular Infrastructure Industry
and addresses the power consumption issue. The company also indicated that its technology enables significant power reduction
in RF transmitters and that the technology is a good fit for battery powered equipment.
Nujira was founded by four former members of the Symbionics / Tality
staff. Symbionics was the former wireless design unit of Cadence Design Systems and Tality is presently an IC design support
unit of Cadence Design Systems. Cadence is one of the top three Electronic Design Automation (EDA) companies in the world.
August 3rd, 2005
Magnolia’s Diversity Solution
Receives Test Results – Offers Wide Range of Dual Antenna Features for Carriers and Cell Phone Users
In trials attended by over 70 industry leaders, Magnolia Broadband,
Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, has received its test results. Magnolia, indicated that it was pleased with the test
results, and that its solution, the Magnolia’s Broadband Mobile Diversity solution, enables the doubling of capacity
on wireless networks, lower ARPU costs of major carriers, increases battery time by one-half hour, minimizes health
energy radiation, and reduces the number of towers and base stations in a network.
Osmo Hautanen, CEO of Magnolia Broadband emphasized that the test
results were a positive sign and that Magnolia plans to enter different wireless markets, "The successful results of
the tests demonstrate that our innovative diversity technology will be a leading solution for enhancing CDMA based networks
in the Korean and other global marketplaces. We are now looking forward to offering our solutions to other protocols such
as UMTS and WiMax."
Central to the chipset’s system features is that it is optimized
for dual-antenna handsets and equipment that have both transmit and receive antennas. Such architectures provide a dedicated
DSP channel for each transmit and receive antenna, which has enabled Magnolia to develop algorithms to address a number of
issues. One such market is the health-safe cellular phone market. A market that has been recognized, and now has players in
the chip and system market.
Dr. Myung Sung Lee, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice
President of SK Telecom, indicated that his company was pleased with Magnolia’s test results and emphasized that his
company would continue to work on the Mobile Transmit Diversity technology, "We are very pleased with the results of the field
testing with Magnolia's Mobile Transmit Diversity technology and we will continue to work with them closely so that we can
realize the significant benefits in our network."
Magnolia also notes that its chipset families enable a solution
for wireless operators to increase capacity, and for handset users to improve coverage and data rates.
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