NEC trumpets M2 phone chip design

Engineers say they have halved the energy used by each element on the chip, , dubbed the M2, and focused on energy-saving in the transition from a 90 nanometer process to 65nm.

NEC says modifications detect whether transistor currents are too strong and unnecessary power use is avoided through altering frequencies in software.

It says the current maximum cell phone battery life of seven hours will not be compromised, even if twice the power is required for high-speed telecommunications.

The chip includes new functions, like mobile television broadcasting reception (which nobody in their right mind will watch, surely) alongside standards like telephone and data transmissions.

NEC will ship samples of the M2, at around 5,000 yen. The chip can be used in current 3G handsets as well as in units compatible with next-generation communications systems, including HSDPA.

Expect mass production to start in October, says our man at NEC, with output of 1 million chips a month targeted by the end of 2008. µ