News

Texas Instruments (TI) has created a reference design for a handheld that will include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GSM/GPRS in a single device. Code named WANDA for Wireless Any Network Digital Assistant, the handheld is powered by TI's OMAP processors and Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system.

TI does not plan to release this model itself. Instead, it has created this design to help companies create products based on TI's chips. These don't have to include all three wireless technologies.

"By empowering device manufacturers to bring Pocket PCs with integrated GSM/GPRS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, this concept design provides a powerful, versatile, ready-to-manufacture platform for anytime-anywhere connectivity," said Andy Haon, director, for Microsoft's Mobile Devices Marketing Group. "With this concept design, Texas Instruments raises the industry bar on the wireless capabilities of Pocket PC devices."

WANDA runs TI's OMAP1510 application processor. It also includes the company's BRF6100, the industry's first 0.13u Bluetooth single chip solution, and the TNETW1100B, an 802.11b MAC/Baseband processor specifically designed for mobile/embedded wireless LAN applications. Finally, it has TI's TCS2100 GSM/GPRS chipset, which includes a digital baseband, an analog baseband, and a software suite, including a complete GPRS/GSM protocol stack.

The WANDA PDA Concept Design is scheduled to be available next month. TI made this announcement at CTIA Wireless 2003.

Thanks to willem huizinga for the tip.

Related Links

• Round-Up of Information from CTIA Wireless 2003