June 11, 2003 - Ericsson Technology Licensing announced today that they have signed a licensing agreement with Philips' semiconductor division. The agreement states that Philips will license Ericsson's new Bluetooth baseband core, which implements the complete range of mandatory Bluetooth 1.2 features. A first pre-release has already been delivered.
With the Ericsson Core Bluetooth Baseband Platform Q-E1, Philips will be one of the first companies to offer their customers Bluetooth chips based on the Bluetooth 1.2 specification with, for example, better voice and audio quality and improved coexistence with other wireless technologies.
"Philips and Ericsson Technology Licensing are already partners, but this deal brings us one step closer to our mutual goal, bringing fully compliant Bluetooth 1.2 solutions to the market," says Maria Khorsand, President of Ericsson Technology Licensing. "Together, we want to make sure Bluetooth reaches the mass market."
Ericsson Technology Licensing and Philips' semiconductor division have been partners since 1999. This partnership has delivered the benefits of the stable foundation of technical expertise at Ericsson and Philips coupled with the high volume semiconductor production capability of Philips.
"Ericsson's new core has everything we want for our Bluetooth 1.2 solutions," says Paul Marino, Vice President and General Manager Business Line Connectivity at Philips Semiconductors. "Philips is committed to providing our customers with fully compliant Bluetooth 1.2 products based on proven core technology, enabling us to be among the first to launch products with these new features. The incorporation of the Bluetooth 1.2 technology is yet another step towards fulfilling our vision of the Connected Home."
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world. Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/press
About Ericsson Technology Licensing
Ericsson Technology Licensing develops state-of-the-art Bluetooth design solutions optimized for mobile communication, computing and media devices. As a major driving force behind the Bluetooth initiative, we have been instrumental in the development of Bluetooth wireless technology from a simple idea into a widely acclaimed industry standard. Our complete portfolio of IP Cores for Bluetooth baseband and radio together with a complete Bluetooth software package, qualification services, training and design services provides semiconductor and original equipment manufacturers the fastest, most reliable course for implementing Bluetooth
wireless technology in new products.
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 31.8 billion in 2002. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 170,000 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.semiconductors.philips.com.
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