[September 20, 2004]

Texas Instruments Mobilizes IP Phones

BY JOHANNE TORRES

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (news � alert � quote) just announced it added a platform which opens the doors to the development of a high-performance Wireless LAN (WLAN) IP phones. The possibility of creating such a device is expected to enhance the company�s suite of Voice over IP (VoIP) (define - news - alert - tutorial) products. The company says its product will benefit users wanting to save money by using IP-based communications.

Users of the new TI�s TNETV1600-based WLAN IP phones for enterprise and residential applications will be able roam throughout an enterprise campus or home, check email and access other data services.

"Being active in the onsite communication field for many years, we are always looking to evolve our solutions with new technology. The combination of VoIP and WLAN is a very promising platform for our target market segments," said Stefan Bramberg, CTO of Ascom Wireless Solutions, provider of enterprise mobility terminals throughout Europe. "This cooperation between Ascom WS and TI will greatly enhance our feature set and time to market for new portable handsets.

TI�s high-performance Wireless LAN (WLAN) IP phone technology TNETV1600 is based on the company�s OMAP16xx architecture, which is commonly utilized in cell phones. The company says that its new technology bundle will allow developers to manufacture WLAN IP phones with talk and standby time comparable to mobile phones.

TI's TNETW1230 WLAN is equipped with a chipset with software support to meet existing and developing standards, and TI's Telogy Software for VoIP, a voice processing software that supports the transport of toll quality voice over WLAN networks. Additional TI technology used in the design includes the TLV320AIC22C dual channel codec, integrating drivers for handset and headset on one chip and the TPS65010 power management product, a fully integrated battery management/power management IC. TI is further implementing standards-based and pre-standard security features in this platform to offer comprehensive and secure Voice over WLAN communications.

�Coupling broadband telephony with mobility presents tremendous cost savings, flexibility and new feature opportunities for consumers using residential VoIP," said Jeffrey A. Citron, chairman and CEO of Vonage. "Also, business travelers whose mobile phones don't work overseas or who pay expensive roaming fees can benefit from WLAN IP phones as well. As the market leader in VoIP and WLAN, it makes sense for TI to enable the creation of these next-generation IP-based portable devices, and we're pleased to be working closely with them to broaden the reach of this technology."