Increasing numbers of operators and equipment manufacturers have come to understand the logic behind the femtocell concept, and the advantages of picoChip’s turnkey programmable SoC solutions.

Convergence specialist UbiquiSys, for instance, specified picoChip’s products for its 3G HSDPA ZoneGate home access point system. In-building wireless developer ip.access uses the picoArray’s programmable architecture to combine wireless connectivity with 3G network integration in its femto3G Access Points for residential fixed-mobile convergence (FMC). And Axiom Wireless is relying on picoChip in the design of the industry’s first femtocell architecture expressly designed to integrate different wireless standards.

Femtocells are also taking on a key role with some of the world’s foremost network operators. Our devices were selected by Korea Telecom as the basis of its WiMAX/WiBro home basestation offering.

Femtocell developments are continuing apace – we are partnering with some of the industry’s leading names to develop new capabilities, including UMA leader Kineto Wireless; packet timing experts Semtech; and mobile/IP convergence specialists Tatara.

picoChip is a founder member and active participant in the Femto Forum, a not-for-profit membership organization that brings together the foremost femtocell equipment vendors with the major global mobile operators assessing the technology.

The forum will initially focus on pre-competitive standards-related issues including radio planning and control, device provisioning and management and device-to-network standardization. By addressing these key areas of concern to operators, the Femto Forum will encourage the uptake of femtocell technologies and ease the task of network integration.

As well as developing open standards the forum aims to build a thriving femtocell technology ecosystem that supports deployment. In addition, a marketing task force will promote the benefits of femtocell technology for both operators and subscribers.