LG Electronics Chooses SH-Mobile for Mobile Phone Handsets

SH-Mobile to provide support for multimedia functions in CDMA/GPRS/EDGE mobile phones sold worldwide

Tokyo, December 20, 2004 −− Renesas Technology Corp. today announced that its SH-Mobile*1 application processor for 2.5G and 3G handsets will be incorporated into a new GSM/EDGE *2 mobile phone model manufactured by LG Electronics and scheduled to be released in the United States this December.

This will bring the number of LG Electronics handsets incorporating SH-Mobile to six, including CDMA*3 models and a GSM/GPRS*4 model introduced in July this year. SH-Mobile provides multimedia functionality in LG Electronics' mobile phones, which are spread world wide, to realize a rich array of mobile services.

The new GSM/EDGE mobile phone incorporating SH-Mobile will be sold by Cingular Wireless, an American mobile phone operator. As the 3G service, EDGE is considered to mark the start of full-scale mobile phone multimedia capabilities in North America. SH-Mobile will play a key role in establishing a mobile phone multimedia culture in North America by delivering functionality including still digital photography, smooth video capture, high-quality audio playback, and playback of video content.

SH-Mobile is also used in the SV510, SV520, KV5100, and KV5200 CDMA handsets manufactured by LG Electronics. These have been introduced consecutively in South Korea since July 2004. SH-Mobile provides full support for the services offered by the two leading operators in South Korea*5, the country where mobile phone multimedia services are most advanced.

SH-Mobile has low power requirements and implements high-grade functionality such as high-quality digital still photography at resolutions of 1 megapixel or better, MP3 audio playback, and streaming playback of MPEG4 video content.

In addition, the T5100 GSM/GPRS mobile phone model manufactured by LG Electronics features an internal antenna and a built-in megapixel camera. It is presently sold in China and a number of European countries including Russia and the Netherlands.

SH-Mobile has been enthusiastically received because it provides low-power operation and allows implementation of high-quality image processing and system configurations that are not dependent on a single communications standard. This is why it is used in a broad array of handsets manufactured by LG Electronics.

LG Electronics has increased its global market share of mobile phones up to 7.2% in the third quarter of 2004*6 . As the world's top five manufacturer of mobile phone handsets, LG Electronics has expanded the sales to the South Korean, Chinese, North American, and European markets. Renesas Technology plans to further promote the spread of SH-Mobile through mobile phones from LG Electronics and in the process help to realize a richer array of mobile phone services worldwide.

SH-Mobile is a pioneering LSI device developed by Renesas Technology specifically for mobile phone applications. Approx. 25 mobile phone manufacturers have already chosen SH-Mobile worldwide. SH-Mobile is an example of distinctive leading edge technology from Renesas Technology that is helping to make the long-awaited mobile application platform a reality in the next-generation mobile phone market.

In the years ahead Renesas Technology will continue to work through the SH-Mobile Consortium *7 to advance the widespread adoption of SH-Mobile in the next-generation mobile phone market, with its strong demand for a wide variety of applications. Renesas Technology is committed to providing optimal solutions to manufacturers in this field.


Notes: 1. SH-Mobile (SuperH™ Mobile Application Processor): A dedicated multimedia application processor developed by Renesas Technology that connects to the baseband LSI and provides audio, video, and other functionality. SuperH is a trademark of Renesas Technology Corp.

2. GSM/EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment): A generation 3 data transmission format that employs a GSM mobile phone network.

3. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access): A communications standard presently used primarily in South Korea, Japan, China, and the United States. The version used in South Korea is called CDMA2000 1x EV-DO.

4. GSM/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service): A generation 2.5 data transmission format that employs a GSM mobile phone network.

5. SK Telecom and KTF

6. Data provided by the American research firm, In-Stat/MDR

7. A program for member companies formed in October 2003 to pursue and promote system solutions for mobile phones. URL: http://shm-consortium.renesas.com/eng/index.html


About Renesas Technology Corp.

Renesas Technology Corp. designs and manufactures highly integrated semiconductor system solutions for mobile, automotive and PC/AV markets. Established on April 1, 2003 as a joint venture between Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, NYSE:HIT) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TSE:6503) and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Renesas Technology is one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world and world leading microcontroller supplier globally. Besides microcontrollers, Renesas Technology offers system-on-chip devices, Smart Card ICs, mixed-signal products, flash memories, SRAMs and more. http://www.renesas.com

* Product names, company names, or brands mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

***Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but maybe subject to change without prior notice.***

×
Semiconductor IP