The OMAP-based PocketPC device uses a modular format such that one, two or all three of the connectivity options can be incorporated. Wanda signifies what Engibous said will be the type of functionality that will be the big driver for the electronics industry during the latter half of this decade.

Despite the high-integration capabilities that the Wanda concept demonstrates, Engibous admitted that power consumption continues to be an issue. However, he was quick to reference on-going work at TI that would see such developments as low-power, wearable wireless devices that would be powered by the body's own heat.

Engibous's enthusiasm for converted wide-area and local-area networking was shared by Paul Otellini, president and COO of Intel, who also joined in the keynote session. With the recent announcement of the PXA800F chip for cellular, followed by last week's Centrino announcement, Intel is clearly playing all positions in wireless.

Speaking of convergence and universal connectivity, Otellini commented "802.11 and 3G are synergistic and allow for a much richer environment. If we make service pervasive software developers will write to the standards and get the applications deployed."

However, Tony Sica, Intel vice president and director of marketing for the wireless communications and computing group, didn't see the viability of a combined cellular, WLAN solution on a PDA. "You won't see 802.11 integrated on a PDA until the power issue is addressed," he said.

But don't try telling TI that. Wanda incorporates a low-power WLAN chipset that cuts the standby current of a WLAN solution from a typical 40 mA to 3 mA on the Wanda platform, said Matt Kurtz, of TI's WLAN product marketing group.

The WLAN side comprises the TNETW1100B 802.11b baseband and media access controller that is combined with a Maxim RF front end. The Bluetooth module is the company's own BRF6100 single-chip radio, while the GSM/GPRS module uses the company's TCS2100 chipset with analog and digital basebands and power management. Details on the GSM RF front end were not available. An OMAP1510 applications processor is also supplied.

"We're continually evolving our processes and design techniques to reduce things like leakage current to increase overall standby time," said Richard Kerslake, director of TI's Wireless Computing group's wireless terminals business unit.

Nonetheless, Wanda does incorporate a large 1900-mA/hr battery, versus the typical 1400 mA/hrs of a typical PDA.