IBM Manufactures Mobile TV Chip for Startup

IBM is set to manufacture mobile digital TV chips for fabless semiconductor startup Abilis Systems that will be used in the mobile phone, portable media player and PC laptop markets, Abilis announced today. Geneva, Switzerland-based Abilis, part of the Kudelski Group, claims it is the first semiconductor fabless company to propose a single-chip mobile TV solution, integrating both the RF tuner and the demodulator on a 90nm RF CMOS process. As part of the agreement, Abilis Systems said in the statement that it will also add its RF clock synthesizer into IBM IP portfolio. "We have chosen IBM for the high performances of their RF CMOS process and the quality of the RF design kit which have been key to achieve our technical and time-to-market objectives," Yves Mathys, Abilis' CEO, said in a statement. "Our customers can now rely on the manufacturing capabilities of IBM to meet their needs in terms of quality, volume and continuity of supply." "Mobile TV is an exciting market and one where innovative fabless companies developing highly integrated RF design solutions are driving the agenda. IBM is delighted to have been selected by Abilis as the foundry vendor for their single chip mobile TV device based on IBM's 90nm RF CMOS process." Adrian O'Connor, the IBM systems and technology group's European sales director for semiconductors, added in the statement. "Leading edge third party IP remains a key part of IBM's foundry offering."