Texas Instruments announced today that it will add new chip applications beyond the mobile phone market. The new chips will be used in everything from music players to medical equipment. The company, which faces stiff completion from Qualcomm in the
wireless arena, will expand its OMAP product line. OMAP is currently used to support gaming and video in cell phones.
“We’re basically making this technology available to thousands of customers instead of tens of customers,” said Neil Anderskouv, vice president of TI’s digital systems business.
Texas Instrument’s OMAP 3500 line of chips will support features such as graphics displays in navigational equipment, medical imaging equipment or music players, Anderskouv said. Texas Instruments is working with up to 100 clients on making products using the new chips, he added. No client names were revealed.
Texas Instrument’s biggest customer is Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer. Texas Instruments generates about 40% of its revenue from the sale of wireless chips.
The company said its OMAP3503 chipset would ship within four weeks. It also said that OMAP3515, OMAP3525 and OMAP3530, would be available in the second half of the year.