By Spencer Chin

EE Times

Feb 17, 2005

MANHASSET, N.Y. — Wireless communications company TechnoConcepts Inc. announced Thursday it has entered into a license agreement with Chinese conglomerate China Electronics Corp. for its patented True Software Radio (TSR) technology.

Techno Concepts (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) has developed a chip technology for wireless products that performs all signal processing through software rather than hardware, by converting the received signals from the antenna directly into digital form. The company`s goal is to develop a single chip handset solution that can seamlessly hook up into various global mobile networks and transmit voice, data, and video signals, according to company chairman Tony Turgeon, during a conference call with analysts

China Electronics Corporation (CEC), a $5 billion conglomerate under supervision of the central government of China, will under license from TechnoConcepts incorporate the TSR technology into next-generation commercial and government wireless applications. Turgeon said TechnoConcepts will develop front-end chips designed to be integrated with the handset`s processor core.

The chips will initially use gallium arsenide technology but eventually migrate to silicon germanium and low-power CMOS technologies, Turgeon said.

Techno Concepts will rely on its foundry partner Jazz Semiconductor (Newport Beach, Calif.) to make the chips, Turgeon said. Jazz has two foundries, including one in Shanghai.

TechnoConcepts will receive a technology access fee, payable as project milestones are reached, as well as future royalties as TSR-based products are commercialized.

Turgeon said handsets incorporating the TSR technology could appear in as little as 18 months, but likely won`t see production for at least 21 months.

According to Turgeon, TechnoConcepts is initially focusing its efforts in Asia because of strong consumer and government interest there.

``South Korea has the most advanced wireless network, while China is developing a digital network and wants to showcase digital technology with the Olympics there in 2008,`` Turgeon said.

Turgeon added TechnoConcepts was working to establish other strategic partnerships in government and consumer applications, many in Asia but also some in the U.S.