AMD's each-way bet on mobile graphics

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 14 February 2007 07:42

Your IT - Mobility

AMD, well known for its processors and ATI-branded graphics chips, has announced it will licence its graphics technology to other semiconductor manufacturers serving the handheld market, as well as introducing a new range of media processors for mobile devices.

"AMD has been developing graphics technology for PCs and video game consoles for more than 20 years, and has shipped more than 200 million AMD processors for mobile phones,” said Paul Dal Santo, vice president and general manager of AMD’s Handheld Division. “This uniquely qualifies AMD to work with OEMs and other semiconductor suppliers to bring to market handheld devices capable of delivering The Ultimate Visual Experience."

The first licensee is STMicroelectronics, which will add the AMD technology to its Nomadik multimedia application processor chips used in phones, PDAs and other handheld devices.

"Combining AMD’s leading graphics core with the proven strengths of our Nomadik leading-edge multimedia platform will not only drive interest with application developers, but will help feed the consumer appetite for visually rich 3D applications and multimedia," said Jyrki Hannikainen, general manager of STmicroelectronics' Application Processor Division.

AMD's own mobile newcomers are the Imageon 2298, 2294 and 2292 media processors, which are claimed to deliver DVD-quality video and high-definition audio. Target markets appear to include camera phones, with support for up to 12 megapixel camera functions, video recording with stabilisation, DVD-quality playback, video telephony, and mobile TV.

Operators offering 3G phones using existing Imageon chips include AT&T and Vodafone.

Although the new chips are available immediately, phones and other devices incorporating them are not expected until early next year.