1999-10-09, BG9908,
Backgrounder From Philips Semiconductors

Dateline: 2003

Remember Telecom '95, when practically every visitor had a leased mobile to keep 'in touch', but nearly all of them had the same ringing sound? A mobile ringing caused a flurry of activity, with people everywhere patting their breast pockets to check whether it was their phone. In those days there was a very limited choice of ringing tones, not like the wide choice of personalised hi-fi tunes available now.

Back then, the mobile was simply a mobile voice communicator, not the sophisticated multi-media instrument that we have today. The most advanced feature then was to inform you of the number of the last call you missed. There were no messaging services, or even e-mail. Everything was in real-time, just like the old days of fixed communications before voicemail or even answering machines. The instruments themselves were relatively heavy and had to be continually charged in order not to shut down during that important call. Displays were small, black and white and limited to alphanumeric characters, not like the full colour, pictorial displays with full video capabilities that are around now.

Many facilities such as accessing the Internet at any time and being able to load the information into your palmtop or laptop computer, were simply not available. And the feature of always knowing exactly where you are at any time, coupled with a location map provided by the GPS capability of your mobile, had not even been dreamed of.

It was the breakthrough of combining the mobile communications system with the Bluetooth local communications capability that made all the difference. Without that combination it would not have been possible to realise the sort of features we take for granted today, such as automatically collecting your loyalty points and paying for your fuel when filling up your car. Or allowing diagnostic and service data to be uploaded to your garage or dealer so that your car is booked in for a service at the appropriate time, with the appointment being automatically loaded into the agenda of your personal or handheld computer. It was Bluetooth that also helped reduce the car theft figures dramatically by automatically deactivating the car within a few metres when taken without authority.

In fact, it was mainly due to the universal application of Bluetooth at the turn of the century that wireless inter-communication between mobiles, palmtops, laptops and computer peripherals became so commonplace. In those days, during the Telecom '99, industry leaders like Philips Semiconductors were paving the way for developments on several fronts.

In addition to Bluetooth, Philips was developing the chips for third generation and even fourth generation mobiles. The introduction of Global Packet Radio Services (GPRS) increased the data transmission rates attainable and also made simultaneous multiple transmissions to and from mobiles possible. It was this increase in data transmission speeds that first enabled high fidelity music to be transmitted to mobiles, followed fairly quickly by loading it into the mobile memory for use as a ringing pattern.

The next development to be implemented was Internet access, facilitated by the introduction of larger, better definition displays and relayed connections to laptops and palmtops using Bluetooth. A precursor to Internet capability was acceptance of e-mail communications via the mobile network.

Not long after that, GPS capability was built into mobiles, with the larger high definition screens allowing navigation displays. The GPS capability not only allowed mobile users to locate places easily, it also contributed towards locating mobile users involved in car accidents or simply broken down on the highway. Another parallel development was the integration of a video camera into the mobile telephone, which allowed video-conferencing. A spin-off of the video capability of mobiles came from building a video camera into the car which, using the Bluetooth local communications facility, enhanced the security of the vehicle considerably.

Philips Semiconductors occupies a leading position in the world of mobile communications components and, together with its subsidiary VLSI, is pioneering many leading edge developments. All of the functionality mentioned above and the applications which will be realised by them, are being developed and standardised by the chip-manufacturing industry today. Philips is a major contributor to these developments, having a highly skilled development team and a long history of consumer electronics manufacturing. Philips also actively participates in the technology standardisation processes which are leading towards the Universal Mobile Telephone Service (UMTS) and making the day when communications are realised between people and not between places come nearer.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier based on Dataquest's 1998 report (*). Headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, the company's innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position it as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Its recent acquisition of VLSI Technology (San Jose, California, USA) further enhances Philips Semiconductors' position as one of the world's leading suppliers of handset solutions for digital cellular and cordless telephone systems including GSM, CDMA, TDMA, DECT, ISM, GPRS and Bluetooth. In addition to these digital system solutions, Philips Semiconductors also produces ICs for wired and analog cordless telephony and paging. The company's activities are supported by sales offices in all major markets around the world, and by systems labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing its home page at  www.semiconductors.philips.com.

* Based on Vendor Revenue from Shipments of Total Semiconductors Worldwide according to Dataquest's 1998 Worldwide Semiconductor Market Share report published in May, 1999.