Cirrus Logic Inc’s subsidiary RSA Communications Inc, which specializes in communications chip firmware, has licensed Altocom Inc’s SoftModem technology to incorporate into the Hitachi SH family of RISC microprocessors. Altocom claims that the technology can save $30 on the price of production of devices like personal digital assistants and other consumer devices, because the functions of a Digital Signal Processor chip are performed by the CPU, so simpler, lower power chipsets can be used. RSA is modifying Altocom’s software and calling it Native Modem technology, and is planning to adapt it for various embedded operating systems including Windows CE. Mountain View, California-based Altocom has already licensed the SoftModem to Philips Semiconductors and Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.
