Texas Instruments Invests in 3G Handset Venture

asia.internet.com writes that Texas Instruments (TXN), along with Japanese handset makers Matsushita, NEC and Panasonic, "have formed a joint firm to develop a new 3G platform by 2007. Using a 12 billion yen joint investment, Adcore-Tech is slated to open next month in Japan as part of an effort to combine resources toward a platform for 3G handsets."

According to the article, "NEC and NEC Electronics, employing 180 workers, will hold 44 percent of the company; Matshusita and Panasonic Mobile will hold 44 percent; and TI will hold 12 percent. As part of the agreement, NEC, Matsushita, Panasonic and TI will license technology to the new company for 2.5G, 3G and beyond technology. In turn, the company will offer communications technology to NEC's semiconductor unit and Texas Instruments. Those chips then become part of phones made by NEC and Panasonic."

David Chamberlain at In-Stat said, "The more the merrier." He thought the "lack of handsets was a key stumbling block to 3G reaching its expected 2003 tipping point."

Chamberlain said that "including TI will enable those companies to expand off the island. Japanese W-CDMA isn't compatible with anything else."