Barcelona, Spain—Aiming to help EDGE handset manufacturers improve transmit and receive sensitivity functions, RF Micro Devices Inc. will sample in April a highly integrated RF transceiver that it is marketing under the brand POLARIS 3 Total Radio.

The Polaris 3 Total Radio chipset includes the RF6030, a single chip CMOS transceiver module, Rx SAW filters and matching components; the RF3251, a transmit PA front-end RF switch module with integrated RF shield; and the RF9003, a DC-DC switch-mode power supply (SMPS) for additional power savings.

At less than 200mm2 footprint (<270mm2 with the RF9003) for the entire radio, Polaris 3 Total Radio is one of the smallest, efficient quad-band EDGE radio products, according to RFMD.

Polaris 3 Total Radio follows up the Polaris 2 Total Radio chipset for E-GPRS handset applications with a smaller, more advanced digital RF (DigRF) compliant EDGE radio. Polaris 3 Total Radio employs third generation large signal polar modulation technology for best in class talk time and enhanced network connectivity. Advanced module packaging technology eases layout complexity for reduced design cycle times.

Target applications include mid-tier E-GPRS handsets as well as smartphones supporting Windows Mobile as well as other operating systems.

The POLARIS 3 EDGE transceiver employs self-shielding technology, which eliminates the need for custom external shields by integrating RF shielding into the RFIC or module. RFMD's self shielding technology reduces volume requirements by 30% to 50% while also lessening sensitivity to board placement, according to the company.

The POLARIS 3 is also RFMD's first EDGE transceiver to support the DigRF 2.5G interface standard. For more on the standard, go to www.digrf.com.

RFMD will showcase its POLARIS 3 TOTAL RADIO product at the 2007 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 12-15, 2007, in Hall 8, Stand 8B79.

RF Micro Devices Inc., 336.664.1233, www.rfmd.com