New Philips BGB201 TrueBlue™ semiconductor module makes it easy to add Bluetooth wireless technology to mobile devices

Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today announced its first complete plug-and-play Bluetooth™ semiconductor module that adds Bluetooth wireless technology to mobile applications such as PDAs, laptops and mobile phones. The BGB201 TrueBlue™ module is the first to integrate embedded Flash along with all required Bluetooth functionality (baseband, radio) into a single, ultra-compact package, making it the ideal solution for use in applications where small form factor and low power consumption are critical. The BGB201 is a true plug-and-play module that allows manufacturers to optimize their design time and minimize assembly and testing costs due to its high level of integration and complete testing already done by Philips.

Within a few years, tens of millions of Bluetooth enabled devices will exist worldwide, offering significant connectivity opportunities for communications, commerce, and information exchange, according to research from analyst firm IDC. The firm forecasts that the cellular handset market will experience the greatest growth over the next few years with 51 percent of Bluetooth revenues in 2006; this includes both add-on and embedded chips. Solutions such as the plug-and-play BGB201 from Philips will help manufacturers meet the increasing demand by speeding their time to market.

"Based on years of communications and semiconductor expertise, Philips' system approach to Bluetooth design brings highly integrated and cost effective solutions to manufacturers of Bluetooth enabled devices," said Vincent Jongenelen, international product marketing manager, Philips Semiconductors. "Bluetooth continues to be a key wireless connectivity focus for Philips and our newest TrueBlue Bluetooth module further demonstrates our commitment to meeting the demands of the mobile consumer.­

The innovative BGB201 module from Philips combines baseband functionality with radio functionality in a single integrated module. The baseband of the BGB201 Bluetooth module is a Blueberry™ baseband chip that integrates an ARM7 microcontroller with 224 kbyte of embedded flash memory and a variety of interfaces, such as USB, UART, PCM and GP I/Os on a single die. Additionally, the BGB201 supports all existing Bluetooth data and voice packets and can be connected with voice codecs already present in a device in order to enable voice functions. In designs such as wireless headsets that have no voice codec, the BGB201 works seamlessly with the newest 1.8 volt voice codec from Philips - the Blueberry Voice PCF87757 - to create Philips’fully functional Bluetooth Voice Solution.

The radio of the BGB201 features all critical RF parts, such as a near zero IF transceiver chip, baluns, a TX/RX switch and a bandpass filter. With the BGB201, the only external parts required for total Bluetooth functionality are an external clock source and the antenna.