Mobile World Congress
The annual Mobile World Congress - formerly known as 3GSM - is intended to highlight the latest trends in mobile technology and services. It runs from 27 February - 1 March in Barcelona, this year, and is organised by the GSMA (GSM Association). The congress brings together mobile operators, equipment vendors as well as industry figures.
GSMA Mobile World Congress 2012 - Latest News
Tuesday 28 February 2012
MWC: Mindspeed design wins
Korea Telecom has turned to Mindspeed for SoC baseband processors for its long-term evolution (LTE) small cell development.
MWC: ST-E to sample 28nm in Q3
At MWC, ST-Ericsson said that its first 28nm wireless chip-set, its NovaThor, will sample in Q3 and it will be used by Samsung in its Galaxy S Advance and by Sony Mobile in two of its Experia smartphones.
Monday 20 February 2012
MWC: iPhone gets health data over Bluetooth Low Energy
Cambridge Consultants will demonstrate Bluetooth low energy (BLE) iPhone 4S applications at Mobile World Congress.
MWC: Altera uses Symmetricom's LTE clock technology
Altera has selected to incorporate the mobile network synchronisation technology of Symmetricom in its FPGA-based IEEE 1588 designs for the development of 4G/LTE mobile systems.
MWC: Nivio brings Android, Apple always-on access to Windows desktops
The start-up Nivio has announced the beta launch of its European service for Smartphones to provide always-on access to Windows desktop, applications and data.
MWC: Ubiquisys and Intel put mobiles on the cloud
Ubiquisys is demonstrating at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today, a new type of small cell basestation which uses Intel processor technology to dramatically increase the processing power and storage when deployed in LTE networks.
MWC: Nvidia Tegra 3 powers HTC One X
At Mobile World Congress 2012 Nvidia has announced that its Tegra 3 mobile processor is powering the new HTC One X, which has been unveiled at the event.
MWC: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 turns Pro
Qualcomm has boosted graphics processing in its Snapdragon S4 tablet-smartbook processor to make a 'Pro' version.
MWC: Huawei shows energy-efficient basestations
Huawei has released a new energy-efficient basestation equipment site configuration at the 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
MWC: App decides if call arrives as ringing, voicemail, or text
NEC is demonstrating smartphone software at Mobile World Congress that automatically recommends the way an incoming call will arrive, based on an estimate of the phone's movement.
MWC: 4G LTE will be bigger winner at MWC 2012
The mobile phone industry will gather at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month and it will say “4G is happening, at last”.
Pre-show
Microsoft to begin shipping thousands of ARM-based Windows computers
Microsoft will be making available thousands of ARM-based computers running Windows at around the time of MWC, says Microsoft 's Windows boss Steven Sinofsky.
Toshiba works with Movidius for 3D smartphone camera
Movidius is working with Toshiba to develop a complete 3D camera system for smartphones.
GSMA Mobile World Congress 2011
View our photos from Barcelona in the MWC 2011 Photo Gallery >>
Thursday 17 February
MWC 2011: China's ZTE and Huawei target Europe
China’s ZTE and Huawei have made bold statements at Mobile World Congress this year of their intents to be seen as global players in the smartphone market.
MWC 2011: Broadcom takes Cortex-A15 licence for tablets
Broadcom has extended its ARM licence to cover very low power Cortex-M series cores as well has the latest high end Cortex-A15 core.
Wednesday 16 February
MWC 2011: Maxim shows one chip femtocell RF front-end
Maxim Integrated Products has shown its single chip RF front end for low cost femtocell basestation designs.
MWC 2011: Tetzchner aims Opera at every platform
Opera is already a browser on 90 million mobile phones, and co-founder Jon von Tetzchner wants to see it on every tablet too.
MWC 2011: Car drivers to get online info on the move
An Israeli company has launched an online car-based information and entertainment system that offers drivers and passengers touch screen and mobile access to nine "content worlds".
MWC 2011: China Mobile joins Alcatel-Lucent for cloud radio access network
China Mobile, the world's biggest mobile phone operator, and network equipment supplier Alcatel-Lucent are to co-develop a next-generation radio access network (RAN).
MWC 2011: ARM wants more for its cores
ARM wants more money for its cores, CEO Warren East told Reuters in Barcelona. "As they have more functionality, we are giving more value to our customers, and we expect to be paid more," said East.
Tuesday 15 February
MWC2011: ST-Ericsson to make losses until Q2 2012
ST-Ericsson expects to continue to make losses for another year with its first expected profit coming in Q2 2012, CEO Giles Delfassy said in Barcelona today.
MWC 2011: Wi-fi moves to 5GHz for more channel capacity
If you have ever been annoyed by public wi-fi hotspots being slow because of over use and a lack of capacity, help is on the way.
MWC 2011: Qualcomm targets tablets, welcomes Nokia-Microsoft deal
Qualcomm is the latest chip supplier to welcome Nokia's tie-up with Microsoft on mobile operatng systems.
MWC 2011: Atmel works with Nvidia on 15in tablet touchscreens
Atmel has said it is working with Nvidia to move multitouch technology to large screen formats.
MWC2011: LTE, HSPA+ modems from ST-Ericsson
ST-Ericsson has launched two modems enabling manufacturers to develop devices that can connect to LTE and HSPA+ networks.
MWC 2011: Broadcom aims for low energy Bluetooth apps with combo chip
Broadcom's latest wireless combo chip is it first to integrate 802.11n Wi-Fi with the low energy variant of the Bluetooth specification.
MWC 2011: Atmel works with Nvidia on 15in tablet touchscreens
Atmel has said it is working with Nvidia to move multitouch technology to large screen formats.
MWC 2011: TI exec says Nokia-Microsoft healthy for market
Texas Instruments mobile phone chip executive believes Nokia's partnership with Microsoft is good news for the industry.
Monday 14 February
MWC 2011: 12Mpixel video sensor for phones
Samsung has announced a 12Mpixel CMOS imager with back side illuminated 1.12µm pixels.
MWC 2011: A billion mobiles to get Low Energy Bluetooth in a year
A billion mobile phones enabled with the new low energy version of Bluetooth by the end of the year is the target for chipset suppliers.
MWC 2011: Marvell offers open-source platform to rival Android
The mobile phone market has another open-source software platform, this time from Marvell.
MWC 2011: CEVA goes to UK-based firm for 3G software
CEVA and PA Consulting has joined forces to offer software for wireless infrastructure applications based on the CEVA-XC processor and PA’s baseband software radio expertise.
MWC 2011: Freescale has 4G 'basestation on-a-chip'
Freescale Semiconductor has introduced a multicore processor for the design of data intensive 4G basestaions.
MWC 2011: Qualcomm aims quad-core ARM chip at 4G phones
A first taste of the processing performance which 4G smartphones will have in the next two years came from Qualcomm today at Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona.
MWC 2011: CSR moves to TSMC 90nm process
CSR has started work on moving its silicon IP onto semiconductor foundry TSMC’s 90nm embedded flash process technology.
MWC 2011: LTE mobile testing for FDD or TDD
Use of FDD in LTE mobile networks is under the spotlight as the availability of paired spectrum wanes and operators consider TDD, which will need adequate conformance testing, writes Lindsay Harris.
MWC 2011: Nokia CEO draws battle lines
The mobile phone market is now a battle between ecosystems and no longer handset technology, says the CEO of Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer.
Pre-show
MWC 2011: Pico-projector from ST and bTendo
STMicroelectronics and Israeli start-up bTendo have signed a deal to develop a pico-projector for phones. The projector will be based on bTendo's scanning laser engine and ST micromachining capability.
MWC 2011: Renesas shows MeeGo running on hardware
Renesas has teamed with Nomovok to offer its first implementation of the MeeGo Linux-based software platform on its mobile application processor, the SH-Mobile APE4.
MWC 2011: NFC payment technology to dominate
Mobile phone suppliers and network operators are expected to unveil a host of technologies and deals, aimed at allowing people to pay for goods and services via their mobile phones, at the Mobile World Congress show next week.
MWC 2011: Is this the lowest power Bluetooth receiver?
Nordic Semiconductor is claiming one of the industry’s lowest-power wireless transceivers for the Bluetooth low-energy standard. The µBlue nRF8001 draws peak currents of only 12.5mA, with connected mode average currents as low as 12µA, for 1-second connection intervals.
MWC 2011: Will LTE topple Wimax for 4G crown?
Is the battle won for the hearts and minds of 4G mobile operators?
MWC 2011: CEVA, mimoOn launch LTE reference designs
Based on CEVA’s Ceva-XC communications processor IP, the reference designs are software upgradeable to support additional wireless communication standards such as WCDMA, HSPA+ and WiMAX.
picoChip IC allows basestation-on-a-dongle
picoChip today announces the first in its next generation of picoXcell femtocell chips, the PC3008. The 40nm device is optimised for high-volume cost-sensitive consumer applications.
Ubiquisys works with CTTC on open LTE femtocell platform
Ubiquisys has teamed with the Spain-based Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC) to develop the world’s first open source product-oriented LTE network simulator.
ST-Ericsson chip sees GPS and GLONASS satellites
ST-Ericsson claims to have one of the smallest receivers capable of picking up signals from both GPS and GLONASS positioning satellites.
Network operators must find new partners for LTE - analyst
Network operators should seek new partners to make the most of high-speed mobile transmission technology, according to a market analyst.
4G will need smarter power control, says Cambridge firm
Envelope tracking technology will be essential for 4G mobile phones to work, says Tim Haynes, CEO, Nujira.
Android overtakes Symbian as top smartphone platform
Google's Android operating system has overtaken Nokia's Symbian platform to become the world's leading smartphone platform.
RFMD has production order for smartphone power chips
RF Micro Devices says it has received its first volume production orders for its PowerSmart power platforms to be used in a new smartphone due for March.
Personal femtocell cuts international call costs
Ubiquisys claims to have developed the first personal femtocell, which will allow people travelling abroad to use their mobile as though in their home country.
Phone app cuts network traffic
Roke Manor Research has developed a smart phone app that cuts network traffic for operators.
iPhone and iPad to enable NFC payment services
Apple plans to introduce services that will enable iPhone and iPad users to make purchases, say US reports.
Previous GSMA Mobile World Congress 2010 News
Wednesday 17 February
MWC2010: Vodafone and Google Square Up In Barcelona
Should Google pay for using the telephone system for its searches? The boss of Vodafone, Vittorio Colao, said Yes at MWC 2010 in Barcelona, while the boss of Google, Eric Schmidt, said No.
MWC2010: TI samples OMAP4 ARM-based smartphone platform
Texas Instruments has started sampling the OMAP 4 chipset platform for smartphones. It is supporting OMAP4 designs with the Blaze suite of mobile development tools.
Tuesday 16 February
MWC2010: Qualcomm to launch dual core SnapDragon processor
Qualcomm is launching a dual core version of its SnapDragon processor later this year aimed at smartphones, smartbooks and tablet PCs.
MWC2010: It's a long road to 4G mobile rollout
While it took 3G UMTS more than five years of costly deployments before the technology had enough critical mass to demonstrate that it was going to succeed, LTE has had a much easier start.
MWC2010: Broadcom spots ADSL/wireless convergence
Broadcom is anticipating the convergence of Ethernet-based wireless and wireline networks with a DSL chipset that comes with its own production-ready reference design platform and firmware.
MWC2010: Testing times for LTE systems
With revenue opportunities for bandwidth-intensive mobile services continuing to blossom and many new applications on the horizon – such as multiplayer gaming, videoconferencing and streaming high-definition video, all on the move – next-generation cellular technology development has moved quickly, with the result that both Long-term Evolution (LTE) and Wimax are now fully-fledged wireless standards.
MWC2010: IPWireless aims video dongles at the iPhone
IPWireless is planning to add video to mobile phones, including the iPhone, through small, low cost dongles using the recently approved IBM multimedia broadcast specification.
WMC2010: Green Hills hypervisor targets chips with dual ARM Cortex A9
Green Hills Software is entering the mobile phone software market with a hypervisor for chips with dual ARM Cortex A9 processors. The Multivisor is based on Green Hill's Integrity real time operating system.
MWC2010: Testing times for LTE systems
With revenue opportunities for bandwidth-intensive mobile services continuing to blossom and many new applications on the horizon - such as multiplayer gaming, videoconferencing and streaming high-definition video, all on the move - next-generation cellular technology development has moved quickly, with the result that both Long-term Evolution (LTE) and Wimax are now fully-fledged wireless standards.
Monday 15 February
MWC2010: RF Transceiver tackles cost of femtocells
Lime Microsystems has introduced a multi-band multi-standard RF transceiver IC for for small cell basestations and femtocells.
MWC2010: Imagination runs Flash 10.1 on PowerVR
Imagination Technologies has demonstrated the results of its collaboration with Adobe to optimise Flash Player 10.1 for mobile and embedded devices, utilising OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration, on application processors with POWERVR SGX graphics processor at MWC 2010 in Barcelona.
MWC2010: Freescale optimises StarCore DSP for LTE
Freescale Semiconductor has added to its StarCore digital signal processor (DSP) offering for basestation designs with a slimmed down version of its MSC8156.
Friday 12 February
MWC2010: Samsung CMOS imager has on-chip processing
Samsung Electronics has increased the degree of integration in CMOS image sensor design for mobile phones with a system-on-chip sensor with on-chip signal processing.
Previous GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009 News
Wednesday 18 February 2009
MWC 09 - Omnia HD i8910 adds PowerVR 3D graphics
The Symbian-based handset uses the Texas Instruments OMAP3 multimedia processor platform supported by Imagination's PowerVR SGX graphics processor.
Tuesday 17 February 2009
MWC 09 - Nokia to buy chips from Qualcomm
In the biggest rapprochement since Nixon went to China, Nokia and Qualcomm today announced that Nokia is going to start buying chips from Qualcomm.
MWC 09 - Nokia extends 3G HSPA plans with chip deals
Nokia has been busy signing a number of important semiconductor supplier contracts this week as it confirms its plans for 3G HSPA handset platforms.
MWC 09 - Common mobile charging socket in prospect
Mobiles will share a common charging socket design by 2012, according to an announcement at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The GSM Association and 17 phone companies are collaborating in the initiative.
MWC 09 - RFMD targets CDMA with RF chips
RF Micro Devices is planning a new assault on the CDMA RF front-end chipset market. This will be the chip supplier's first new products aimed at CDMA handsets in around five years.
MWC 09 - Anite teams for MIMO emulator
Anite and Azimuth Systems, a MIMO channel emulator specialist, have launched a Wimax tester, which combines a channel emulator and a basestation emulator.
MWC 09 - TI unveils OMAP 4 for 1080p HD in Barcelona
Texas Instruments has announced the next generation OMAP 4 mobile applications platform which will support 1080p HD video record and playback and 20 megapixel imaging.
MWC 09 - Design makes femtocells GSM compatible
Cambridge Consultants has developed a GSM/GPRS/EDGE/E-EDGE physical layer (PHY) reference design which it said is targeted at mass-market 2G and 2.75G femtocells.
Monday 16 February 2009
MWC 09 - Freescale enhances Netbook browsing experience
At Mobile World Conference 2009 in Barcelona, Freescale announces a raft of people it is working with to get a netbook platform established.
MWC 09 - Huawei next with Android phone
Huawei Technologies has said it will start selling its first smartphone based on the Android platform later this year.
MWC 09 - Xilinx introduces LTE reference design
Xilinx has combined software defined radio and third party IP in an FPGA-based programmable platform for Long Term Evolution (LTE) baseband and radio subsystems for basestations.
MWC 09 - Lime Micro tunes RF transceiver for small femtocells
Lime Microsystems has introduced a second generation multi-band multi-standard RF transceiver IC which has been tuned for femtocells and small cell basestations.
MWC 09 - ST-Ericsson shows Cortex platform for 3G LTE
ST-Ericsson claims to have the first Symmetric Multi Processing (SMP)-enabled mobile platform running on Symbian OS at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week.
MWC 09 - PicoChip targets eight-user femtocalls
PicoChip has announced the PC8219, a baseband platform for higher capacity femtocell networks.
MWC 09 - Is mobile broadband at tipping point?
Mobile devices are close to the tipping point where they will be the established means for accessing broadband web services, according to one femtocell supplier.
MWC 09 - HD video runs on Android mobile platform
ZiiLABS will demonstrate HD video playback for the Android open platform with its ZMS-05 media processor and platforms at the Mobile World Congress, Barcelona.
MWC 09 - Motorola 3GPP M2M module programmed on air
Motorola will introduce in Barcelona next week the G30 GSM/GPRS LGA series of wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) modules.
MWC 09 - Mulit-touch sense on TI OMAP35xx platform
Stantum Technologies, which develops multi-touch sensing technology, is introducing a development kit which enables OEMs to create their own multi-touch applications.
MWC 09 - Qualcomm to offer femtocell chipset in 2010
Qualcomm has announced its first 3G femtocell chipsets, but they will not appear until 2010.
MWC 09 - ARM shows its first 32nm high-K metal gate processor
ARM is to show its first 32nm high-K metal gate processor at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week.
MWC 09 - TI shows Android on OMAP 3 mobile development platform
Texas Instruments is showing the latest Android mobile platform running on its OMAP 3 mobile development platform this week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
MWC 09 - Android chipsets, but where are the handsets?
Android, Google's open source mobile operating system is expected to be much talked about this week at Mobile World Congress.
Pre-show
Ericsson demos 42Mbit/s dual-channel HSPA links
Ericsson is planing the first demonstration of the HSPA multi-carrier technology for peak downlink data rates of 42Mbit/s at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week.
Elonics markets mobile TV tuner in Taiwan and Korea
Elonics has appointed two representative and distributor agencies to cover Taiwan and Korea.
NXP-Sony joint venture adds security to NFC
Moversa, joint venture between NXP and Sony, has unveiled a device which adds security to near-field communications (NFC) wireless links.
Design holding up as Movidia launches 'Facebook' chip
Design starts in the mobile market are holding up despite concerns about falling confidence in the consumer market, according to the head of Irish chip start-up Movidia.
Previous GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008 News
Wednesday 13 February 2008
Orange backs Mobile Linux move in handsets
Orange joins the LiMo Foundation which is bidding to support and accelerate the rollout of Linux in the mobile phone industry.
ST drives NFC into mobiles with single-chip design
STMicroelectronics has a system-on-chip (SoC) device which adds security features to the emerging NFC (near field communications) market.
Tuesday 12 February 2008
Femtocell firms jockey for position at Mobile World Congress
The battle for the femtocell market is starting in earnest at the world's largest mobile phone show in Barcelona this week
Monday 11 February 2008
TI prototypes an Android handset
Texas Instruments is using the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to showcase a prototype handset based on the Android mobile platform, the Google-backed initiative that is based on Mobile Linux.
Friday 8 February 2008
Motorola, Netgear demo femtocells at Mobile World Congress
Motorola will show its 8000 series Motorola Femtocell Access Point at Mobile World Congress 2008. Netgear is also working with Nokia Siemens Networks to certify its Femtocell Voice Gateway.
Qualcomm sees trials for broadband mobile services
Qualcomm has said that a number of network operators are committed to trialing HSPA+ technology this year.
Ericsson makes open software move for HSPA mobile
Ericsson has introduced a verified one-chip HSPA design platform which it said will support a number of major open operating systems.
About the GSMA
The GSMA was founded in 1987 and is a global trade association representing GSM mobile phone operators. More than 690 such operators are members, covering 214 territories or countries of. This doesn't count the 180 manufacturers and suppliers that officially support GSMA's initiatives as Associate Members.
The stated aims of the GSMA are "to ensure mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers".
GSM wireless standards
The association describes GSM as an evolving' wireless communications standard that covers voice and data services. The related GSM 'family' of technologies comprises: the 'second generation' GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) and 3G GSM services (3GSM) based on W-CDMA and HSDPA technologies. Together these technologies underpin the GSM platform.
GSMA World Mobile Congress - The Event
You can download a brochure of the event and the programme of the Congress is also online.
The list of speakers ranges from Michael Adams of Nortel and Trevor Adey of Consillent to Neik van Veen of Forrester and Thomas van der Zijden of Polymer Vision. Topics covered by conference seminars range from 'Mobile Money Transfer' and 'HSPA Evolution' to 'Personal IM' and 'Mobile Broadband Solutions'.
The Mobile Asia Congress is a sister event that will run 18-20 November, in Macau.
Related technologies
Check out these Electronics Weekly guides to some related technologies
* Wireless - www.electronicsweekly.com/wireless
* WiMAX - www.electronicsweekly.com/wimax
* Bluetooth - www.electronicsweekly.com/bluetooth
* Digital TV - www.electronicsweekly.com/digitaltv
* Mobile Linux - www.electronicsweekly.com/linux
* Microprocessors (x86) - www.electronicsweekly.com/x86micros
* Microprocessors (non x86 - ARM, MIPS, TI) - www.electronicsweekly.com/nonx86micros