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$20 Cellphones Possible with TI's New Chip

Posted by timothy on from the ever-cheaper dept.

swimgeek writes "Texas Instrument's Indian branch has succeeded in developing a single chip which combines the functions usually performed by multiple chips in a GSM cellphone. By doing so, cellphone costs can be dramatically reduced, thus making cellphones more affordable in developing economies. Nokia has been contracted to make the initial sets, with market launch in as soon as 9 months. More coverage here and here."

4 of 298 comments (clear)

  1. How will they keep C and A separate? by ReformedExCon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In dual-chip architectures, there are two chips: the (C)ommunications CPU and the (A)pplications CPU. C-CPU and A-CPU respectively. They typically communicate over a bus to pass data back and forth between the two chips, so there is a standard interface between the two.

    It is pretty straightforward to program for this type of setup because you don't have to worry about what the other chip is doing. It's over there doing its thing while my program is over here doing its thing. The two don't talk so often. Typically, you'll even have two separate operating systems running on the separate chips, that's how far apart they are.

    But what will it be like with only one chip, and presumably one memory block? Will the single OS running the chip have to handle all events and interrupts? How much more difficult will it be to write a multitasking phone operating system when such disparate things as mail applications and radio transmissions are handled on the same chip?

    I'd love for cell phone prices to come down a little bit. Hopefully this brings the prices down, but if software gets more expensive, it may be a wash.

    --
    Jesus saved me from my past. He can save you as well.
    1. Re:How will they keep C and A separate? by putko · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The new thing is to have a single DSP/processor that can run the OS and the signal processing apps. This allows getting rid of one chip, which is what they are so excited about.

      If you imagine that you took what was formerly on two chips and just put them on one, it should make sense that this is quite possible.

      You see the same thing with the x86/x87 combination in the Pentiums. Or microcontrollers that now have all the crap you need (except for reset circuit and serial drivers) on one chip.

      In the case of the DSP, programming it might be tricky, but so what: some geek does it once, and then you run that software on a million items: however painful it is, it gets amortized.

      If you are the processor company, you do it for your customers, so that they can get the silicon out there ASAP, and you get back all your NRE.

      --
      http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_s tone_your_children/dt21_18a.html
  2. So... by greenhybrid · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So they can make tiny cellphones that connect opposite ends of the earth for $20, yet a VHS-sized scientific calculator with a funky green screen costs $100? Hm...

  3. Re:who gives a shit by Spruitje · · Score: 4, Interesting


    ":) this will be good for some of us who just use cell phones as phones nothing else."

    Why not use a land line, then? :) :) :)


    Because in most parts of the world there aren't any landlines (at least, not enough).
    One reason why GSM is adopted at such a rate is that in some countries there wasn't a working telephone system before.
    And a GSM net is cheaper than putting a wired telephone system in place.