LG Innotek and Nanorandio announced a partnership to bring low power WiFi technology to the global consumer multimedia and mobile phone market. The first application to result from the agreement is a wireless WiFi Network Camera for use in security monitoring and surveillance system. The two companies will also introduce an integrated low power WiFi System in Package (SiP) solution for mobile phones during the second quarter of 2007.

The development of wireless network cameras is opening up new opportunities such as monitoring homes and small offices via the Internet, and the partnership between LGIT and Nanoradio is aimed at helping to meet the anticipated increase in demand for WiFi-based surveillance. Fixed-mobile convergence using dual mode cellular/WiFi handsets is set to be a rapidly developing market during 2007, and low power WiFi modules are a critical enabling technology for this application. The partnership takes advantage of combining LGIT's expertise in providing module products to the wireless market and Nanoradio's background as a semiconductor company specialised in producing chipset solutions for WiFi applications.

The Nanoradio NRX700 WiFi chipset offers 802.11b,g functionality, featuring ultra-low power consumption (0.3mW in WLAN standby mode) and on-chip power management, Bluetooth co-existence, FMCA/UMA compliance and support for both hosted and embedded solutions. The power amplifier and cellular RF filter are both built-in, and no external components are required. Another major advantage is an optimized algorithm for data, voice and Hi-Fi stereo audio.

"Our R&D and Marketing teams have selected the Nanoradio WiFi solution after an extensive benchmarking programme that compared a number of similar products," said Mr JS Park, CTO of LGIT. "The Nanoradio subsystem is the best in its class, and provides all the key features we were looking for, both for our immediate requirement and for moving forward with our roadmap."