As the packagers of handheld devices combine cell phones, PDAs, wireless Internet browsers and music players into one machine, I've noticed two lines of attack among analog-parts suppliers. The broad-line suppliers like Texas Instruments and National Semiconductor are thinking about the architectures of the combo handhelds. They are looking carefully at the parts of the system that could be put to sleep while other sections operate-and assessing the multiple voltage levels and clock frequencies these elements will require.

Specialty-parts suppliers, meanwhile, are looking closely at the dc/dc converters these handheld kludges will need. The folks at Linear Technology see a greater proliferation of the synchronous-buck topology, while Maxim Integrated Products engineers believe the lower voltage required will enable more integration between pulse-width modulators and power MOSFETs.

One technology that looks like a winner is silicon germanium, especially in RF circuits. Bipolar advocates have long believed that SiGe is more power efficient than CMOS at the 2.4-GHz frequency required by Bluetooth and IEEE-802.11 wireless LANs. But SiGe's spread through bipolar and BiCMOS fabs will make the process widespread enough to be considered mainstream for RF power amps and low-noise amp receivers. Maxim is already there; look for Linear to jump on the bandwagon this year.

The lowering of CMOS voltage levels helps fast processors run cooler, but it drives analog designers up a tree. Motorola made headlines three years ago with the industry's first 1-volt op amp; Infineon will break the record this year with a 0.7-V device it will show at next month's International Solid State Circuits Conference. Still, that won't stop a powerhouse panel at ISSCC-"Has Moore's Law run out of steam?"-from trying to lynch the advocates of fine-line CMOS for analog.

Also this year, MOSFET supplier International Rectifier is looking to become a powerhouse in automotive electronics. And expect microcontroller juggernaut Microchip Technologies to grow its business in standalone analog components, in motor control DSPs and in integrated controllers that may displace the venerable 80C51.