News Details

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2001--Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A), a leading provider of innovative technologies for communications and life sciences, today announced that its miniature film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) duplexer will be incorporated into multiple handset platforms and wireless appliances to be developed by Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

The first Samsung product to use the FBAR duplexer is the Watch Phone, a full-featured, wrist-wearable code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile phone. This announcement was made at the 2001 Wireless/Portable Symposium & Exhibition at the San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, Calif., Feb. 12 to 16.

Using Agilent's FBAR duplexer, which occupies less than 20 percent of the volume of a conventional ceramic device, Samsung's engineers were able to make the phone a truly wearable communications device. Measuring only 3.5 by 2 inches, the Watch Phone offers capabilities that rival the latest full-size mobile phones. The Watch Phone includes storage for 229 numbers, voice mail, caller ID, call forwarding and call waiting. It also supports voice-activated dialing, a speakerphone and short-text messaging.

"Agilent's innovative FBAR technology helped Samsung create this ultra-small, ultra-light PCS phone," said Byung Duck Cho, vice president of Samsung Electronics' Information and Communications Business's Wireless Terminal Division R&D team. "The FBAR technology enabled us to significantly reduce the size of the duplexer, which is usually one of the bulkiest components of a mobile phone."

"As further miniaturization shapes the future of consumer electronics, Samsung will continue to work with Agilent to deliver next-generation communication products designed to fit people's changing lives," said Ki-Tae Lee, executive vice-president and CEO of Samsung Electronics' Information and Communications.

"The Watch Phone is a groundbreaking mobile product," said Bryan Ingram, manager of Agilent's Semiconductor Products Group RF Business Unit. "This product demonstrates Samsung's leadership in developing innovative, miniature mobile products, and we are pleased that Samsung plans to continue to use the miniature FBAR as a critical component in multiple handset platforms and wireless applications going forward."

Agilent's FBAR technology is used to produce a miniaturized duplexer that supports the design of very thin form-factor CDMA devices. Duplexers play a critical role in a CDMA handset by separating incoming communications from outgoing communications. Agilent's FBAR duplexers occupy less than 20 percent of the volume of a conventional ceramic duplexer. Devices based on FBAR technology provide better power handling, insertion loss, and selectivity characteristics when compared to current surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices.

The new FBAR-based duplexer is part of the Agilent CDMAdvantage chipset, which includes all active functions required for 800 MHz and 1900 MHz handsets. The Agilent MGA-72543 bypass-switched LNA and the Agilent QCPM-9801 dual band power module are already shipping in high volume to CDMA handset manufacturers.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a diversified technology company with approximately 47,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 2000, Agilent had net revenue of $10.8 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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