LG Electronics mobile phone utilizes Tensilica processor

LG Electronics has used Tensilica Inc.'s Xtensa configurable processor core to deliver their first mobile phone capable of receiving digital broadcast signals. Compatible with the terrestrial digital-multimedia-broadcast (T-DMB) system, a broadcast system currently being rolled out in South Korea, the new mobile phone is powered by a digital media processor which was designed using the Tensilica Xtensa processor core and design environment.

The LG claims their phone allows consumers to watch TV programs, while using normal dialing functions simultaneously. Other mobile devices, such as PDAs, have featured broadcast capabilities, however, the company says this is the first small form factor device to feature both broadcast capabilities as well as dialing functions. The SOC can also be applied to notebook computers, PDAs and car terminals, speeding the adoption of the T-DMB standard.

Choon Lee, VP of LG, said, "Based on its experience with this first SOC, LG has also signed a second license for an Xtensa processor for their next-generation DMB-2 phone.