Parthus Launches MobiStream - New 2.5G Platform - At The 2001 GSM World Congress

by Nicki Hayes, February 21, 2001

In a major development at the 2001 GSM World Congress in Cannes last week, Ireland's Parthus Technologies plc unveiled a newly designed microchip architecture called MobiStream. This microchip represents one of the industry's most advanced GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) platforms, combining the highest data transmission rates and integrated multimedia processing capability. It also provides one of the industry's lowest baseband power consumption solutions. (LSE:PRH) (NASDAQ:PRTH)

3Com Corporation is the first licensee of MobiStream and will use this and other Parthus platforms to develop new mobile information product lines.

Mobile operators worldwide are deploying GPRS to target the market for mobile data services. With GPRS, connection is almost instant and users can have 'always on' connectivity to the mobile Internet, enjoying high-speed delivery of e-mails, Internet access and mobile multimedia services. In Japan, always on connectivity through NTT DoCoMo's i-mode service has been viewed as an inflection point for mass mobile Internet adoption and usage. Cahners In-Stat forecasts that unit shipments of 2.5G devices will top one billion units by 2004, while 2.5G semiconductor revenue is predicted to grow to over $24 billion in the same timeframe.

"Without question, GPRS is a key milestone in the path to full broadband mobile internet connectivity," said Allen Nogee, senior analyst at Cahners In-Stat. "The defining challenge for the wireless industry is to deliver mobile devices at the cost and battery life consumers demand, with a range of innovative data and multimedia applications. Parthus' unique architecture and convergence strategy, as exemplified in the MobiStream platform, is a major advance in solving these challenges."

MobiStream utilizes breakthrough dedicated silicon hardware architecture to process and accelerate GPRS connectivity, while delivering maximum GPRS data rates. It is designed to support multi-slot Class 12 (maximum 4Rx, 1Tx), circa 56kbps with a simple software upgrade to 8 slots/circa 115kbps as networks increase data capacity. In addition, MobiStream leads the industry in terms of power consumption requirements, with an estimated five-fold improvement over current generation GPRS baseband solutions. The MobiStream baseband operates at 13MHz and minimizes silicon area by requiring less than 100k gates and limited RAM/ROM (7kbytes/3kbytes). The Parthus MobiStream platform is compatible with Condat's GTI (Generic Target Interface) enabling the Condat G23 protocol stack family. Condat AG (NEUER MARKT: CDTG.DE), based in Berlin, Germany, is a major supplier of G23 GPRS technology for 2.0G, 2.5G and 3.0G functionality.

As the MobiStream platform uses dedicated hardware for GPRS processes, it off-loads the DSP (Digital Signal Processing) for codec and mobile multimedia applications. Multimedia capability is enabled by the Parthus MediaStream platform allowing semiconductor companies and OEMs to deploy combined GPRS and multimedia applications in a single chip. MediaStream will target a range of audio applications (such as MP3 music download), Enhanced Messaging Service standard (EMS is a planned upgrade of SMS) and ultimately the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) 3G standard that allows a combination of text, sounds, images and video to be streamed to any wireless device.

The MobiStream platform is designed to be deployed in a number of configurations including data only (e.g., PDA, laptops, network cards); data and voice (e.g., enhanced phones); and data, voice and multimedia (e.g. Smartphones). As MobiStream is targeted at a range of standard CMOS processes, it halves the cost of deployment compared with many software-based GPRS solutions currently in the market. Cost savings are particularly pronounced in data and multimedia deployments.

"Wireless technology allows 3Com to provide radically simple connections for our customers," said Rick Maule, general manager of the Mobile Connectivity Division of 3Com. "Our next generation of wireless and mobile products are a natural extension and will complement our current role in LAN technologies. This alliance with Parthus, a leader in the mobile internet, provides us with additional wireless and multimedia technology, which enhances our existing mobile IP portfolio."

"MobiStream is leading the industry in terms of the three critical issues - power, price and performance - key to the success of 2.5G roll-out," said Kevin Fielding, chief operating officer of Parthus. "We are delighted that 3Com, one of the world's leading networking companies, is our lead customer for this exciting new platform. The flexibility of MobiStream, with its ability to combine mobile multimedia applications, continues our commitment to converge complementary mobile Internet technologies in a single chip solution."

Nicki Hayes is a freelance writer and corporate communications consultant specialising in business to business internet issues. She has contributed editorial to a number of publications including Unstrung.com, Guardian Online, Financial Times, Banking & Financial Training, eAI Journal and Secure Computing. Nicki is also the European correspondent for The Wireless Developer Network. Nicki is based in Dublin, Ireland and also has a base in Cambridge, UK. Through her consultancy, Hayes-Singh Associates, she has access to a number of technical writers and PR consultants throughout Ireland and the UK.