Agilent Technologies Announces Manufacturing Test Support for WiMAX(tm) Devices Based on Sequans Wave 2 Chipset

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced the availability of its Chipset Control Software, included with the Agilent One-Box Wireless Networking Test Set, for WiMAX devices based on the Sequans SQN1130 Wave 2 chipset. This combination creates an extremely fast, accurate and stable measurement solution that enables highly optimized WiMAX chipset calibration and verification for volume production testing.

“Our customers are eager to see their SQN1130-based WiMAX devices come to market quickly and welcome our active participation in helping them accomplish this goal,” said Bernard Aboussouan, vice president of marketing and business development for Sequans. “Agilent is a leader in the wireless test industry and its WiMAX expertise and measurement solutions have been crucial in helping ensure our customers realize the shortest test times possible.”

Traditionally, WiMAX manufacturers have been forced to develop their own calibration software -- a process that is often slow and highly uncertain. Because Agilent’s N7302A software now supports the Sequans SQN1130 Wave 2 Chipset, manufacturers can opt to use it rather than develop the software themselves. The result is a dramatic acceleration in the manufacturer’s time to market. And, since the Agilent N7302A software is based on a modular architecture, manufacturers can rapidly develop WiMAX devices with any future Sequans chipsets as well as quickly integrate RFICs into a reference design.

The Agilent N7302A WiMAX Manufacturing Test Software leverages Agilent’s experience and success in the WLAN and Bluetooth(r) manufacturing market to create a solution that is faster, more accurate and more stable than other commercially available offerings. Its measurement and test flexibility allows manufacturers to fully optimize their production lines. As an added benefit, Agilent provides its customers -- whether fabless semiconductor design house, network equipment manufacturer, original design manufacturer, or contract manufacturer -- with global support for the N7302A and all other Agilent measurement solutions, regardless of their location.

Working closely with the N7302A software is the Agilent N8300A -- a one-box RF parametric test set offering superior specification and fast test times. It is specifically designed for manufacturing and design engineers who need a standard-compliant 802.16e physical layer test tool for Mobile WiMAX(tm) Tx and Rx applications. The N7302A’s companion solution, the N6301A Measurement Application, runs on the test set and ensures fast and accurate measurement analysis of Mobile WiMAX signals.

“Today’s manufacturer is faced with a key challenge -- getting its products to market ahead of the competition, while at the same time protecting profit potential and ensuring the shortest possible test times,” said C.J. Meurell, European operations general manager for Agilent’s Mobile Broadband Division’s WiMAX portfolio. “Through collaboration with Sequans on its calibration and verification test plans, we have been able to effectively optimize test times for the production line. For the manufacturer, the result of those efforts is clear: a highly accurate and fast solution that enables them to quickly and easily perform calibration and verification testing for their high-volume production lines.”

Agilent in WiMAX

A principal member of the WiMAX Forum (www.wimaxforum.org), Agilent is an active participant in the development of WiMAX Radio Conformance Test documents and procedures. Agilent was the first to provide standard-compliant 802.16 physical layer design and test tools for Fixed and Mobile WiMAX applications including WiBro, allowing users to efficiently simulate, troubleshoot and verify designs. Today, Agilent offers a range of WiMAX test and measurement solutions that span the entire WiMAX lifecycle -- from R&D and design verification to manufacturing, conformance and interoperability test. Thanks to their reliability, repeatability and consistency, these solutions provide engineers with a level of performance and functionality not currently available with competing solutions. Information about Agilent’s WiMAX test solutions is available at www.agilent.com/find/wimax.
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