Redpine Signals and Ascom Wireless Solutions are partnering to create next-generation Voice-over-Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) phones with 802.11n wireless connectivity. Redpine Signals, Inc. is a leading developer of ultra low power multi-standard OFDM and MIMO silicon-based solutions for Wi-Fi(R), WiMAX(R) & 3GPP LTE. Ascom Wireless Solutions is a leading provider of on-site wireless communications for key market segments such as hospitals, manufacturing industries, retail and hotels.

The new VoWiFi phone designs are built upon Ascom's long experience in offering state of the art purpose-built handsets, wireless voice- and message transmission systems, and customized alarm and positioning applications. Ascom's customers are found in areas ranging from Hospitals, Elderly Care, Industry, Retail sector, Secure Establishments and Hotels - all of which see increasing amounts of wireless traffic. In these scenarios, the 802.11n wireless LAN standard, even in a low power single-stream mode, provides the benefits of higher throughput through MAC and PHY efficiency, longer range through provisions such as STBC, and importantly, the preservation of 802.11n network capacity. VoWiFi further benefits from 802.11n through PSMP - that allows handsets to maintain large talk-times in a deployment with considerable Wi-Fi traffic.

Redpine Signals has been working closely with Ascom in bringing in the differentiations of its Wi-Fi product to Ascom's handset designs. Redpine's Lite-Fi(TM) technology, based on its RS9110 802.11n SoC, provides key advantages in a VoWiFi solution - including high performance in multipath environments, best-in-class standby power consumption, an active Wi-Fi power consumption of less than 20 mW through the use of uAPSD (certified as WMM-PS), use of less crowded 5 GHz spectrum, voice performance certified through the Wi-Fi Alliance's Voice-Personal program, and enterprise class security through WPA2(TM) Enterprise.

"Redpine's expertise in developing and deploying high performance and low power wireless technology perfectly complements Ascom's experience in delivering solutions for wireless on-site communication that support and optimize their customers' mission-critical processes," said Venkat Mattela, CEO of Redpine Signals. "Our pioneering design has been the world's first SDIO device to be Wi-Fi certified for the 802.11n draft 2.0 certification, along with WMM, WMM-PS and WPS. It is also among the first designs to be certified for Voice-Personal - the Wi-Fi certification that helps ensure a satisfactory user experience for Voice over Wi-Fi applications," he added.

"We were impressed by Redpine's thorough understanding of wireless technology and low-power system know-how," said Stephan Bramberg, Chief Technology Officer at Ascom. "Their focus on minimizing energy consumption in a handset through provision of high-performance wireless in multipath environments is the right approach, as opposed to the general reduction of peak power consumption," he added. "Ascom's products will integrate these benefits along with our highly optimized system design and deployment methods, delivering an outstanding user experience to our customers."