Spreadtrum intros first TD-dual-SIM dual-standby solution for TD-SCDMA

SHANGHAI, CHINA: Spreadtrum Communications Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor provider in China with advanced technology in both 2G and 3G wireless communications standards, announced the introduction of the industry's first dual-SIM dual-standby technology for TD-SCDMA mobile phones. Spreadtrum's TD-SCDMA dual-SIM technology allows consumers to receive calls and texts, or browse data, on either number while the phone is turned on.

For consumers, dual-SIM TD-SCDMA provides flexibility in the choice of voice or data plan, allowing them to retain or use different China Mobile subscriptions for different purposes. Dual-SIM provides the added convenience of allowing for two "local" numbers, enabling users to place local-rated calls while traveling between provinces, without carrying two phones.

It also enables the users to use phone and data functions from two different SIMs simultaneously, allowing users to optimize their voice or data usage to a preferred plan. Consumers are able to use the dual-SIM capability across both the 3G TD-SCDMA and the 2G GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks and use SIMs from different carriers in the same phone.

Spreadtrum's dual-SIM dual-standby feature is the latest in its series of innovations for the China TD-SCDMA market, following the introduction of its SC8800G series of basebands on an advanced 40nm platform whose low power consumption delivers breakthrough standby and talk time performance relative to other solutions available in the market.

Spreadtrum currently commands greater than 50 percent market share of TD-SCDMA baseband shipments, and its wireless communications solutions are being used in fixed wireless, feature phone and smartphone handsets sold by both global and domestic tier-1 brands.

"Dual-SIM enabled by a single baseband is a technology innovation that Spreadtrum was the first to develop for the 2.5G market," said Leo Li, Spreadtrum's president and CEO. "Now, by bringing dual-SIM to TD-SCDMA, we are simplifying the 3G handset purchase decision by allowing consumers to take on new subscriptions while retaining their existing plans. We believe this attractive feature will contribute to further growth in TD-SCDMA handset shipment volumes."

Dual-SIM dual-standby will be available as an option on Spreadtrum's SC88xx series of TD-SCDMA basebands as well as future products, beginning in 4Q11.