Texas Instruments has thrown a rock into the 3G mobile handset market with a strengthening of its technology partnership with Ericsson.
 

Ericsson and TI are to develop a combined hardware and software platform for 3G handsets based on open operating systems (OS).
 

The platform will be based on TI’s OMAP platform with Open OS support for Windows Mobile, Symbian S60, Symbian UIQ and Linux. The platform will use a 3G modem developed by Ericsson

The aim, said the companies, is to design handsets for both the high-end and the rapidly growing mid-range market.

Ericsson will bring its experience of HSPA-enabled platforms, and future HSPA evolution and LTE technologies.

First handsets based on the joint development are expected to be available on the market in the second half of 2008. 

The TI/Ericsson partnership is similar to a deal announced earlier this year when Icera extended it licence agreement with Motorola to use the Motorola TTPCom cellular 2G/3G/HSDPA protocol stack with its Livanto chipsets.