Korea’s leading mobile communications company SK Telecom and InterDigital have agreed to extend their collaboration on developing advanced mobility solutions started a year ago. Under the First Amendment of Development and Licensing Collaboration Agreement, new features will be added to enhance seamless mobility between different radio technologies, including WiBro, UMTS, and cdma2000.
     “We are very pleased with InterDigital’s outstanding contributions on this breakthrough technology,” remarked Dr. Jae W. Byun, CTO of MNO Biz of SK Telecom. “This program is directly aligned with SK Telecom’s vision of an all IP, multi-radio access network.’
     SK Telecom operates a nationwide UMTS network and has announced plans to expand its advanced mobile network across the country, building facilities for WiBro services throughout major cities in South Korea.
     SK Telecom entered into an agreement with InterDigital in 2006 to develop a network interoperability solution for its UMTS and WiBro networks, based on InterDigital’s leadership in next generation mobility standards, such as 3GPP UMTS and IEEE 802.21. In 2007, InterDigital successfully delivered to SK Telecom the system design and the software solution for mobile devices.
     Under the extended collaboration, InterDigital will make further improvements to the existing handover capabilities, adding full two-way handover between WiBro and UMTS, as well as two-way handover between WiBro and cdma2000.
     In addition to the technology development, the amended agreement provides for potential collaboration on future projects.
     SK Telecom successfully commercialized the world’s first CDMA cellular phone service and launched the world’s first IMT-2000 third generation service. For more information about SK Telecom, visit www.sktelecom.com.
     InterDigital designs, develops and provides advanced wireless technologies and products that drive voice and data communications.
     InterDigital is a leading contributor to the global wireless standards and holds a strong portfolio of patented technologies which it licenses to manufacturers of 2G, 2.5G, 3G, and 802 products worldwide. Additionally, the company offers baseband product solutions and protocol software for 3G multimode terminals and converged devices. For more information, visit the InterDigital website: www.interdigital.com.

Hynix enters agreement with MunEDA to Integrate WiCkeD

     Hynix has licensed MunEDA’s enhanced DFM-DFY analysis and optimization tool suite WiCkeD for using in Hynix Analog Mixed-Signal Design & Foundry Flow on a longterm base. Hynix intends to use MunEDA’s technology in all design business units like computing, consumer and graphics memory as well as mobile applications and flash technology. Hynix will also use MunEDA’s design validation and yield verification tools for quality assurance of their Hynix design kits.
     Dr. Young-doo Choi,, Senior Manager CAO Design Automation Team at Hynix: “MunEDA’s tools are best-in class for interactive and fully automatic yield analysis and optimization in circuit design. As for every semiconductor company, design targets like high performance and yield are number one research goals that imply both profitability and time to market. We added MunEDA’s solutions to Hynix design environment to follow our track in establishing best design methodologies to our design goups and therefore improve quality assurance to our customers.”
     Seunghwan Lee, Senior Research Engineer, Design Automation Team at Hynix: “After successfully using MunEDA design analysis and optimization tools for several circuits like pre-amplifiers and latches for automotive applications we have seen the large capabilities our designers can gain when they design circuits in high-end process technologies. As historically used process corners are too pessimistic and not realistic for today’s designs, MunEDA’s deterministic circuit analysis and optimization helps us to speed up the design process and to avoid unwanted redesigns.”
     “We are very pleased that Hynix has selected our solutions for their front-end design flow,” stated Andreas Ripp, Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Managing Director at MunEDA. “As MunEDA’s solutions are already used by some Hynix foundry customers, this is the logical next step. We are looking forward to an intense cooperation with Hynix designers and research engineers, as well as with more Hynix foundry customers.”
     Hynix Semiconductor of Icheon, Korea, is the world’s top tier memory semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips (DRAMs) and Flash memory chips. Further information about Hynix is available at www.hynix.com.
     MunEDA’s solutions are in industrial use by leading semiconductor companies in the areas of communication, computer, memories, automotive, and consumer electronics.For more information about MunEDA, visitt www.muneda.com.

Designworks helps launch Cresyn’s Phiaton audio brand

     Integrated marketing agency Designworks (www.design-works.com) has announced phase I completion of a cross-media branding program for the launch of Phiaton, a new name in high quality personal audio gear from Cresyn Company, Ltd., one of the world’s largest makers of consumer electronics components and products.
     Founded in 1959, Cresyn has expanded from its Seoul, Korea headquarters to operations in Japan, Indonesia and China with a global workforce of more than 12,000 people. Cresyn has earned ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and TL 9000 certifications for continuous improvements in quality management and environmental management, and the achievement of superior volume manufacturing capacities.
     Visit www.phiaton.com for additional information about the company.
     Phiaton debuted earlier this month at International CES 2008, which plays host the world’s leading consumer electronics companies and thousands of attendees from around the world. Selected Phiaton products, which will include headphones, earphones, docking systems and accessories, will begin shipping in March 2008. Designworks was engaged by Phiaton in 2007 to help shape its launch strategy as well as brand messaging, web presence, and promotional emarketing campaigns. Phase II will focus on enhancing the company’s website with ecommerce capabilities and adding a Spanish language website. The Phiaton (fee’ ah ton) brand is characterized by a natural soundstage, wearability and eye-catching appeal for today’s increasingly sophisticated and mobile consumers who expect performance and style in personal audio products. Phiaton Corporation is part of Cresyn Co., Ltd., whose components can be found in many of the world’s best-selling headphones, earphones and speakers. Cresyn’s consumer products include headphones, earphones, headsets, Bluetooth headsets, micro speakers, remote control and charger devices and image sensor modules.
     Designworks is a creative services agency dedicated to cross-media brand development. The branding process includes discovery, definition and identity creation and integrated brand communications for print, web and multimedia. Designworks helps clients develop more targeted, engaging and measurable brand marketing strategies with the website as the core of communications.

ESI receives order from leading Korean LCD maker

     ESI has announced that its New Wave Research (NWR) Division has received an order for multiple QuikLaze QL50ST2 laser-cutting systems from a leading Korean-based liquid crystal display (LCD) panel manufacturer.
     NWR’s customer will use the QuikLaze systems for LCD repair applications in its Generation-6 fab expansion. QL50ST2 system shipments to the customer’s manufacturing site in Korea are expected to begin in February 2008.
     To win “solution of choice” by major LCD panel manufacturers, the QuikLaze QL50ST2 system combines high performance, field-tested reliability and ease of integration.
     The high-volume laser system provides multiple wavelengths and high-resolution X-Y aperture for accurate cutting control.
     Selectable repetition rates from 1 to 50 Hz facilitate fast throughput to reduce LCD manufacturing process time by allowing quicker removal of shorts and defects.
     Jaison Justin, product manager at ESI’s NWR Division noted, “Designed for precision cutting on a microscopic level for quick, easy removal of a variety of materials, the QuikLaze QL50ST2 system is ideally suited for LCD repair applications. This multi-system order along with the continued adoption by the world’s leading LCD panel manufacturers confirms that QuikLaze provides the optimal solution for the demands of 24/7 volume manufacturing. We look forward to the continued development of advanced laser systems to enhance our global customers’ success.”
     To facilitate fast throughput, the system has selectable repetition rates from single shot to 50-Hz continuous.
     Multiple, user-selectable wavelengths (1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm and/or 266 nm) provide the ability to cut a variety of materials and selectively remove certain materials while leaving others unaffected.
     A standard, motorized X-Y aperture or high-resolution X-Y aperture allows for accurate cutting control, while versatile software further assures precise machining.
     The system’s intuitive, microprocessor-based remote control panel is optimized for simple, straightforward operation.
     Founded in 1944, ESI is headquartered in Portland, Ore. More information is available at www.esi.com.