Replies to post #224192 on InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[gio]

I guess we know now who the fabless semiconducter is.


Spreadtrum Communications, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, engages in the design, development, and marketing of baseband processor solutions for the wireless communications market primarily in the People's Republic of China. It offers a portfolio of baseband processor solutions that support a range of wireless communications standards, including global system for mobile communications (GSM), general packet radio service (GPRS), and time division-synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), a 3G standard for wireless communications. The company's solutions also offer various multimedia capabilities, such as TV-out, MP3 digital audio playback, Motion JPEG, MPEG4 and H.264 digital video playback, and 64-channel polyphonic ringtone playback. It also offers turnkey solutions, which include devices that combine its baseband semiconductors and other third-party wireless handset components, such as transceivers and memory semiconductors, as well as bundled solutions. The company sells its products directly to brand manufacturers, IDHs, and original design manufacturers. Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is based in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China.

[revlis]

gio,

You may have found a valuable find.

Spectrum is a mainland Chinese semiconductor.

mo

[Gamco]

Spreadtrum’s SC8800D is a single TD-SCDMA/GSM/GPRS dual mode baseband chip, which is the world's first TD-SCDMA dual-mode chip providing analog, digital and power management, plus multimedia application functions on a single chip. SC8800D offers automatic handover between TD-SCDMA and GSM networks, with up to 384 kbps downlink transmission data rates, and multimedia features for the 3G market.

The SC8800D features a highly integrated chipset that enhances reliability, reduces production costs and helps customers develop new products and bring them to market faster.

SC8800D Baseband Chip Diagram

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SC8800D Key Features

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Core Description ▪ ARM926EJ-S® core, clock speeds up to 100MHz
Data Transmit Capability ▪ PS uplink 128kbps/ downlink 384kbps
Multimedia Support For ▪ Build-in MP3 player
▪ 64-polyphonic melody (MIDI based)
LCD Display Features ▪ Built-in LCD Controller
▪ Support for dual color LCD display modules
▪ Support up to 262 K TFT/OLED display modules
▪ Support up to 240x320 resolution size LCD display modules
Memory I/F Support For ▪ Memory interfaces (SDRAM, NAND, NOR)
▪ Built-in NAND flash controller
▪ NAND booting
▪ NAND+SDRAM multi-chip packaging (MCP)
Peripheral I/F Support For ▪ MMC and SD card interfaces
▪ 3 UART interfaces, with transmission speeds up to 1.152 Mbps
▪ IrDA with transmissions speeds up to 115kbps
▪ SPI interfaces
▪ I²C interfaces
▪ I²S interfaces
▪ GPIO interfaces
▪ 1.8/3.0 SIM interface
▪ JTAG interface for test and in-circuit emulation
▪ Real-Time Clock (RTC) synchronization
Analog I/F Features ▪ Wide range RF interface support for IF/NZIF/ZIF architectures
▪ Power management with Low Drop Output (LDO) regulators on chip
Firmware Support For ▪ GSM/GPRS standards (release V8.2.0 12/1999),
GSM850/GSM900/DCS1800/PCS1900
▪ GPRS Multi-Slot Class 10
▪ TD-SCDMA standards (3GPP release 5), 2010~2025MHz
▪ FR, EFR, AMR
▪ Voice recording
▪ A5/1 and A5/2 encryption algorithms
Other Features ▪ Operating ambient temperature range: -25 to +65 degrees centigrade
▪ Extremely low-power design, 3.0V for I/O, 1.8V for core
▪ 13×13mm² 289-ball LFBGA package

http://www.spreadtrum.com/eng/service.asp?name=mobile&product_name=mobile_SC8800D

[revlis]

That could be our mysterious Asian manufacturer.

mo

[revlis]

old news:

TD-SCDMA Commercial Trials to Begin in April

Sina Tech, 3/20/08

China Mobile (NYSE: CHL; 0941.HK) chairman and CEO Wang Jianzhou has confirmed that trial commercial use of TD-SCDMA and large-scale issuing of numbers will take place in April. China Mobile is shortly to receive deliveries from six handset and two data card manufacturers.

Trials of TD-SCDMA's next evolution, TD-LTE have also started, primarily via cooperation with foreign operators Vodafone and Verizon. TD-LTE is currently being managed by the Chinese Academy of Telecommunications Research (CATR), with Datang, ZTE, Putian and Spreadtrum undertaking major R&D work.

Keywords: Wang Jianzhou, 3G, timetable, mobile phone, 4G, 0941.HK, China Mobile, Chinese Academy of Telecommunications Research, CHL, data card, Datang, LTE, Putian, R&D, Spreadtrum, TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA, trial, Verizon, Vodafone, wireless, ZTE

http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2008-03-20/article/14988/td_scdma_commercial_trials_to_begin_in_april

[magillagorilla]

Gio, Great Find! Thank You! eom

[dndodd]

Thanks to you and Revlis.

[mschere]

Thanks for your DD..Here is recent Barron news Re:Spreadtrum..

Article From Barron Just to introduce SPRD PART-I
25-Jun-08
A Bargain in China's Wireless Market
By TIERNAN RAY
Chip maker Spreadtrum Communications is a solid bet on the Chinese cellular market.


WHEN SHARES OF A RECENTLY PUBLIC company fetch less than the IPO offer price -- less than the price bankers told fund managers to pay -- it behooves investors to see whether a bargain may be in the offing.

Such a deal may be at hand in shares of Shanghai-based Spreadtrum Communications, which makes cellphone chips for China's burgeoning wireless market.

At a recent price of $12, its stock, which trades in the U.S., is below the offer price of $14, and 18% off the first-day closing price on June 27.

In point of fact, Spreadtrum has the prospects to be a great communications chip company some day, similar to giants such as Broadcom and Qualcomm.

The company makes what's called a "baseband," the chip that manages wireless connections in a cellphone. It is also one of three main suppliers for China's ambitious plans to build a broadband wireless data network next year.

Delays in that project have hurt the shares, but even if it stalls completely next year, Spreadtrum may have lots of growth ahead of it.

At a price-to-earnings multiple of 19.5 times next year's earnings per share, Spreadtrum is slightly less expensive than Broadcom even though it has higher projected growth. Spreadtrum earnings are expected to rise more than 40% in 2008 compared to Broadcom's 14%.

At the very least, with Spreadtrum's $3 per share in cash, there may well be some support for the stock at the current price

"How many baseband suppliers can you get for $350 million?" asks Kevin Landis, chief investment officer of Firsthand Capital Management, referring to the price after subtracting cash.

At about 1/182nd of the value of Qualcomm, the world's most highly valued baseband supplier, Spreadtrum's stock offers upside over many years if the company can go the distance.

[rooster]

The Cayman Islands?

[lastchoice]

wicked cool! i think i hypothesized about these guys during the asian modem partner period.