SGS-THOMSON Delivers Starman Chipset for Worldspace Satellite Radio Receivers
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SGS-THOMSON Delivers Starman Chipset for WorldSpace Satellite Radio Receivers October 23, 1997 4:36 PM ET First complete solution includes radio frequency circuit built with proprietary high- speed bipolar technology. St Genis, France -- 23 October 1997 -- SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics presented the first samples of its Starman chipset at the recent third WorldSpace Executive Summit in Toulouse, France. The chipset is the first complete solution available to manufacturers of WorldSpace radio receivers and the three integrated circuits (ICs) that comprise the chipset were designed and built in less than a year. "We are proud to have delivered samples of this challenging and innovative chip set exactly on schedule, because it is functionally complex and requires advanced technology both in digital CMOS and in high performance radio frequency (RF) bipolar IC technology," said Aldo Romano, General Manager of SGS-THOMSON's Dedicated Products Group. "This is another example of how SGS-THOMSON can use its research, technology and manufacturing resources to deliver complete solutions, enabling our customers to achieve their time-to-market targets." The Starman chipset is the heart of receivers for the first direct-to-listener satellite system now being developed by WorldSpace for introduction in 1998. WorldSpace will operate three geostationary satellites serving a potential audience of billions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Selected consumer electronic equipment manufacturers will produce receivers for the new service using Starman chipsets. The Company's majority shareholder is composed of a consortium of Italian shareholders (I.R.I. and Comitato SIR), and a consortium of French shareholders (CEA Industrie and France Telecom). Approximately 31% of the Company's common shares are owned by the public. SGS-THOMSON was chosen as a developer of the Starman chip set in June 1996 because of the company's successful experience in developing and producing the MPEG digital video circuits for consumer video markets. Moreover, SGS-THOMSON is one of the very few companies having a sufficiently broad range of technology knowhow to develop leading edge radio frequency circuits, high-density CMOS logic and a solid base of manufacturing facilities. SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics is a global independent semiconductor company with European roots listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: STM) and on the Bourse de Paris. It designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and discrete devices used in a wide variety of microelectronics applications, including telecommunications systems, computer systems, consumer products and industrial automation and control systems. For the year 1996, the company had revenues of $4.12 billion and net earnings of $625 million. In 1997, the company has received numerous awards, including the EQA Award for the best European company for Total Quality Management principles, and has been recognized as among the world's best companies by Industry Week and Upside magazine. Further information on SGS-THOMSON can be found at www.st.com. Page 1/1.