Parthus presents 3G chip for 'smartphones'

Parthus Technologies has developed a new 3G chip that can provide a cheaper smartphone with PC capabilities.

Parthus Technologies has developed a new 3G chip that can provide a cheaper smartphone with PC capabilities.

The Eire-based company says the chip, called Infostream, integrates all the characteristics of a next-generation mobile phone, a handheld PC and a global positioning system, without the power drain sometimes associated with such devices, and at a lower cost.

Known widely as 'smartphones', the devices will allow users to surf an 'always on' web, read emails or messages, store PIM data such as address books, and synchronise with their PC and word processor.

The chip maker claims that by using the technology, manufacturers of mobile internet-enabled devices will be able to slash lead time to market.

Infostream is based on the ARM microprocessor, which drives a large proportion of the world's mobile devices. It runs Psion's Symbian OS, with support for Linux and Microsoft PocketPC.

UK handheld developer Psion has agreed to license the hardware for its latest range of handheld devices, after it developed the technology in collaboration with Parthus. US cellphone giant Motorola will also license the chip.

Barry Nolan, VP of marketing at Parthus, said the chip could be configured for any kind of operating system "but most of the hard work on that has been done by ARM".

Nolan added that the chip could be used in a wide range of devices, and that the company had already fielded enquiries from car manufacturers, who could use the technology to automatically locate rescue services using its GPS and net-connectivity capabilities.