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News

17 July 2007

 

Axiom expands into new headquarters, driven by accelerated adoption of CMOS PA

Axiom Microdevices Inc of Irvine, CA, USA, which supplies the only fully integrated complementary metal oxide semiconductor power amplifiers (CMOS PA) for mobile handsets, has relocated and expanded its headquarters into a new office in the Irvine Business Center.

“Our relocation is not simply about moving into a larger space; it is the culmination of a succession of events that confirms the market viability of Axiom Microdevices’ technology and business models,” says CEO Brett Butler.

In February, Axiom completed full type approval testing for compliance with GSM specifications and performance requirements for its AX502 CMOS PA (designed into a cellular handset) and raised $25m in a Series C round of funding (to ramp production of its first-generation CMOS PAs and to develop the product roadmap). In March the firm appointed a vice president of operations. In May, the AX502 CMOS PA received an American Electronics Association (AeA) High Tech Innovation Award in the semiconductor category. In late June Axiom shipped its one millionth AX502.

“From the company's inception, through three rounds of funding and customer wins, we are doing what many have said could never be done: delivering a CMOS PA as a viable alternative to gallium arsenide. Our technology enables handset manufacturers to take advantage of the industry’s investments in mainstream CMOS processes and provides for better long-term integration by removing the need for specialty process technologies.”

Switching the PA to CMOS moves the last non-CMOS portion of the RF block to a standard silicon process, which improves supply continuity and opens the door for future integration, says Axiom. The AX502 fully integrated single-chip CMOS PA also improves quality by reducing the number of potential failures associated with more complex implementations, the firm claims.

See related items:

CMOS PA supplier Axiom appoints APAC sales director and Taiwan distributor

Axiom adds VP of operations to ramp production of newly GSM type-approved CMOS PA

Axiom secures $25m to ramp CMOS-based cellular PA production

Visit: http://www.axiom-micro.com