Location: Interview, Stefan Fulga

Q. Give an overview of SiGe Semiconductor

SiGe Semiconductor is a leading global supplier of the products that are enabling wireless multimedia in a wide variety of computing, entertainment and mobile systems. Our innovative radio frequency integrated circuits and multi-chip modules simplify the addition of mobile broadband access and location-based capabilities to consumer electronics.

We deliver solutions designed for the end system application, enabling ease of integration and reduced time to market. Known for innovative approaches to design and manufacturing, our engineers work closely with customers in order to develop industry-leading designs that can provide a competitive edge.

SiGe Semiconductor is the leading supplier of power amplifiers and front-end modules to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth applications. Our WLAN and WiMAX capability will enable SiGe to lead the market for front-end solutions enabling the convergence of these technologies. We also have a significant share of the PND market with our GPS receiver ICs.

Q. What are the deciding factors that make SiGe Semiconductor pioneer in Location Based Services.

Our success and leadership in GPS are measurable: we produce leading GPS receivers for the personal navigation device (PND) segment, and we were the first to release a GPS radio IC with a built-in interface for software GPS applications.

SiGe has the RF design expertise and volume production capabilities in place to meet and exceed the demands of the wireless/GPS marketplace. Our products offer a unique combination of performance, power efficiency, size, and cost that makes them the best choice for many applications, including wireless home entertainment systems, personal and embedded computing, and mobile devices. Our compact, high performance RF modules allow OEMs to quickly and easily add complex wireless/GPS functionality to their consumer electronics devices, for ease of design and rapid time to market.

Q. How important is GPS going to be in the Mobile devices market?

We anticipate that mobile navigation is poised to explode beyond the automobile as feature rich PND’s are setting the stage for the mass rollout of navigation and location-based services that call attention to offers, opportunities, amenities, and information specific to a user’s location and social network. SiGe is a proven leader in GPS receivers, which are the heart of location-based services.

Q. Tell us about the main focus of SiGe Semiconductor Business unit and the perspective in terms of Asian region business opportunities.

SiGe’s focus globally, and in the emerging markets of Asia, is on continuing to provide industry-leading products designed to deliver un-equaled performance that is necessary for high-quality, user-focused applications for wireless multimedia in a wide variety of computing, entertainment and mobile systems.

Our growth strategy in Asia is to deliver both the best technology and application design support. These qualities allow ODMs and OEMs to realize manufacturing efficiencies while delivering consumer electronics with maximum performance and lower price points.

As part of this strategy, SiGe Semiconductor has operations and application development teams to its Asia regional office in Hong Kong. Local application support assists customers in board layout and design optimization to speed the development cycle. Our Asian operations team focuses on supply line management, providing local, real-time support to SiGe’s extensive test and assembly resources in this region. SiGe has been steadily enhancing its presence in Asia, which currently includes an established office in Hong Kong, sales office in Taiwan, and a full complement of distributors and representatives across China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and India.

Q. Who are your customers and your footprint?

Industry-leading consumer electronics companies from around the world look to SiGe to bring wireless functionality to their products. You will find SiGe devices in many of the world's most respected and recognized brands in computing, gaming and mobile communications. SiGe is a trusted, proven, high-volume supplier and has shipped more than 300 million products since its inception.

SiGe operates worldwide, servicing leading consumer electronics OEMs and ODMs from five key sites in Boston, Ottawa, Hong Kong, London, and San Diego as well as through an extensive global distribution network.

Our marquee list of customers includes some of the biggest names in the industry such as Apple, Atheros, Belkin, Broadcom, Cisco/Linksys, CSR, Dell, Foxconn, Furuno , Nintendo, Ralink, , Samsung and SiRF / Centrality. SiGe has expanded our network of sales, distribution, customer and applications support teams in Asia to provide local design assistance. Our customers are drawn to SiGe’s ability to meet the requirements for low-cost and high-volume manufacturing processes.

Q. As SiGe Semiconductor’s latest mobile designs are now being enhanced with WLAN and WiMAX functionality as well as location and mapping services that are dependent on Global Positioning System (GPS) so your view on this.

SiGe is well positioned to combine WLAN, WiMAX and GPS technologies to minimize footprint and enhance functionality. Convergence of wireless technologies is a reality, devices used in mobile applications are driven to meet the constraints of space and low current consumption.. Having the ability to leverage our experience and relationships in efficiently combining technologies to meet these needs enables SiGe to maintain our competitive edge.

Q. Give your companies vision for the next coming years.

As mentioned earlier we believe we about to see mobile navigation move beyond the automobile and into a new generation of feature rich PND’s.

Our GPS solutions provide low-power, high sensitivity for reliable performance that support stable GPS services – helping build the platform for a whole new world of location-aware applications.

SiGe is committed to the GPS portable design market, and we have a roadmap in place designed to bring GPS functionality to mass-market solutions. We will continue to work with our customers and partners to develop industry-leading, application specific solutions.

We plan to release the next generation of our GPS receiver family in 2009. It will be targeted to increased functionality, higher integration and system specific features to support future developments of new applications and still maintain a price curve expected of the consumer industry.