<< help me out here. ... Samsung might produce their own CDMA chips ... it looks to be more robust memory. >>
Wrong Samsung chip type in your release. This is the one, and their own DBDM WCDMA chip supposedly to follow.
"We will begin the distribution of mobile phone terminals that adopted cdma2000 1x chip independently developed to KTF within the month. The 3G chip is likely to be used not only in domestic but also export models, "
>> Samsung Electronics to Release 3G Terminal with Original Chip
Samsung Electronics, the world's No. 3 mobile phone maker, successfully commercialized mobile phone terminals with its original 3G chip, and will release them soon.
Amid fierce competition in the global mobile phone terminal market, Samsung Electronics can now compete with its rivals that have source technologies under the same condition. Judging that it cannot maintain competitiveness by relying on a certain company for chips as the mobile communications environment is shifting from the 2G to the 3G and subsequent development in technologies, such as multi-mode, Samsung Electronics ( http://www.sec.co.kr) embarked on developing 3G original chip (project name: SCom 5000) in 2000 and commercialized it in three years, it announced on Mar. 31.
A high-ranking official of the company said, "We will begin the distribution of mobile phone terminals that adopted cdma2000 1x chip independently developed to KTF within the month," adding that it will be a significant turning point in the terminal business at home and abroad. He also said, "The 3G chip is likely to be used not only in domestic but also export models, " adding that the company is expected to export the chip-mounted mobile phone terminals within the year.
Although it built up its brand recognition through product competitiveness, Samsung Electronics has been criticized for the lack of source technologies as it fully relied on Qualcomm for its chips. With the announcement of the chip-mounted mobile phone terminals, Samsung expects to reduce costs sizably while strengthening competitiveness in the global market.
Samsung Electronics also plans to develop WCDMA chips that are expected to represent 70% of the 3G mobile phone market and unveil mobile phone terminals using them.
The same source in the company said, "We also planned to commercialize WCDMA chip-mounted models soon, but the commercial service plan ran into a snack causing disruptions in the plan," predicting that the company will roll out the WCMA chip-mounted models soon.
Samsung Electronics developed 2G chips and supplied 1 million units of the chip-mounted terminals to the domestic market in the 90s, but it curtailed its chip business because of the relationship with Qualcomm, the sole distributor of CDMA. <<
Also:
>> Samsung to Release Independently Developed IC for Wireless Phone Handsets
Maeil Business Newspaper SEOUL, Korea April 3, 2003
Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd said April 1 that it will release a commercial semiconductor to be installed in wireless handsets this month. Samsung Electronics follows Qualcomm Inc and Nokia Corp in developing its own chip for mobile phone handsets. A deal has been arranged to supply handsets with the chips to KT Freetel Co, Ltd. However, the exact volume of the deal is yet to be determined. The company, which had focused mainly on high-priced lucrative products, is pushing to sell low-priced handsets in its key export markets. <<
First public mention of both Samsungs's 1xRTT and their own DBDM WCDMA chip last September below:
>> Samsung’s Chip Threatens Qualcomm
Kim Deok-hyun Staff Reporter Korea Times September 5, 2002
Samsung Electronics has developed a core chipset for CDMA2000 1X networks, challenging Qualcomm’s dominance of digital wireless communications services and productions.
The development is welcome news for domestic mobile phone carriers and handset manufacturers that have had to pay hefty patent royalties to the San Diego-based technology company.
With the technical breakthrough, Samsung Electronics has gained an upper hand to negotiate with Qualcomm on a slew of controversy over unfavorable royalties, analysts here said.
"Samsung's development of its own 1X chipset will not only allow the company to save in royalties ordinarily paid to Qualcommm, but will also force Qualcomm to cut royalties for other Korean firms," said an analyst at a local brokerage, who asked not to be named.
Qualcomm has been under fire from Korean handset manufacturers since last year for granting preferential treatment to Chinese mobile phone companies who were asked to pay lower royalty rates.
Under the most favorable royalty rates (MFRR) agreement in 1993, Korean handset makers are supposed to pay the lowest possible royalty rates to Qualcomm.
Currently, the U.S. technology firm collects 5.25 percent of local sales of handsets in royalties and 5.75 percent of exports from Korean manufacturers. The rates do not compare favorably with the Chinese rate of 2.65 percent royalties for domestic sales and 7 percent for exports.
"The unbalanced royalties make it difficult for Korean handset makers to make inroads into the Chinese market," the analyst said.
The new 1X chipset will undergo final testing for commercial mobile handsets serviced by KTF, the nation’s second largest wireless carrier, according to a Samsung Electronics official.
"We will produce a new mobile handset equipped with our own 1X chipset in October at the earliest," the official said.
Samsung Electronics is also in the process of developing a dual-band, dual-mode chipset, a key component for third-generation (3G) mobile phones based on wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) technology.
Dual-band requires a phone to be able to operate in GSM or CDMA networks, while dual-mode means it will work in the current network and the future 3G one.
On Tuesday, KT ICOM chief executive Cho Young-chu said the company is highly likely to use Samsung’s own dual-band, dual-mode (DBDM) chipset after the company launches the commercial operation of its 3G network next June.
"We will use Qualcomm’s DBDM chipset in a test-run of 3G service next April, but Samsung’s chipset is also possible after the commercial service begins," Cho said in a press meeting.
Qualcomm has licensed its essential CDMA patent portfolio to more than 100 telecommunications equipment manufacturers worldwide.
Korean mobile phone service operators and handset manufacturers had paid a cumulative total of $1.13 billion in royalties by the end of 2001, according to the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). <<
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