Qualcomm snaps up Airgo

Qualcomm has acquired a key player in the next era of wireless connectivity, Mimo pioneer Airgo.

Mimo - multiple input, multiple output - is central to upcoming technologies such as mobile WiMax and the 802.11n wi-fi standard, as well as the long-term evolution of 3G technology.

The chipmaker said its upcoming Snapdragon multimedia platform and Mobile Station Modem chipsets would benefit from the Airgo purchase, as well as that of the Bluetooth business unit of RF Micro Devices - also announced on Monday.

Airgo once held a prominent position in the World Wide Spectrum Efficiency faction, alongside Motorola, lobbying for its version of 802.11n - Qualcomm was allied with Intel. However, the sides agreed to merge their proposals in 2005, thus creating a first draft for the next-generation wi-fi technology.

While the standard should be fully ratified by the end of 2007, a second draft - which should help assure customers that different manufacturers' 802.11n-based equipment will be interoperable - is due in March 2007. However, Qualcomm also announced it is making available the "world's first 802.11n draft 2.0 chipset", raising the question of how it can claim to do so before the terms of the draft are even agreed.

Enrico Salvatori, vice president and general manager of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, said: "We know what is in the content and are in a position to prove what can be delivered under this draft," while adding that Qualcomm knew it was not the only player "targeting" the specifications.

Salvatori described Airgo as "a good fit", as its purchase would enable Qualcomm to support a reference design without using third-party components, thus making the design "less risky in terms of the finalisation of the standard".

Ovum analyst Julien Grivolas said Airgo is a "key innovator" in Mimo, a technology which will be increasingly used in the wireless industry. He also suggested the Airgo purchase will give Qualcomm something of a stake in a technology that it has until now treated as a rival - mobile WiMax.

David Meyer writes for ZDNet UK