Report: Intel, NTT DoCoMo team up on phone chips
Companies form alliance to jointly develop next-generation chips for cellular telephones
By Martyn Williams, IDG News Service November 17, 2003
TOKYO -- Intel Corp., the world's biggest chip maker, and NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan's largest cellular carrier, have formed an alliance to jointly develop next-generation chips for cellular telephones, according to a report in the Saturday morning edition of Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
The business daily, which did not identify its source for the story, said the joint work by the two companies will be in seven areas, including NTT DoCoMo's WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), or so-called third-generation (3G), telephones and future fourth-generation (4G) handsets.
Part of the work will include the development of a chip for use in NTT DoCoMo's 3G handsets that can simultaneously handle multiple tasks, such as audio and video communications and image processing, said the report. The companies plan to begin using the chip in two to three years, the newspaper said.
Intel's research and development unit is working with NTT DoCoMo on cellular telephone technology, said William Giles, a company spokesman. He could not immediately provide details of the work under way. NTT DoCoMo could not be reached for comment.
Intel is one of several companies that have been trying to move into the telecommunications space over the last few years as cellular telephone handsets become more complicated and processors are called upon to perform more complex tasks. Other companies entering the market include Texas Instruments Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., NEC Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. and Hitachi Ltd.
