Nazomi's Java Accelerator Chip for Wireless Apps

Nazomi Communications' new JA108 chip is targeted at mobile wireless applications like 2G/2.5G/3G phones, and the company says it improves Java software execution while extending battery life. The JA108 is the first in a series of product offerings under Nazomi's new KChip product line. The JA108 offloads the microprocessor by taking over the task of executing Java Bytecode instructions to speed up Java software execution by 15x to 60x, depending on the application, and is said to perform this task without increasing system clock frequencies, requiring additional memory, new tools or causing any new porting efforts. The chip, which interfaces like an SRAM device, is a stand-alone Java accelerator and is available either in a 10x10 mm 128 ball uBGA .8 mil pitch, or a 7x7 mm 128 ball uBGA .5 mil pitch configuration. The JA108 works with any baseband processor, chipset, system on chip (SoC), or microprocessor and is supposed to be transparent to existing designs and legacy operating systems. The JA108 is being sampled now and slated for volume production in Q1 2002 at a U.S. list price $5.59 per device, in quantities of 10,000 or more.