PrairieComm, Inc., industry leader in 3G baseband technology, today announced that the PCI3800 baseband processor will enable the commercialization of 3G EGPRS (EDGE) handsets by the end of the year. EGPRS handsets will offer "always-on" data with speeds up to 384 kpbs. PrairieComm is demonstrating the spectral efficiency of EGPRS over GPRS at the CTIA show in Orlando, Florida, March 18-20. The demonstration will show EGPRS speeds of 60 kbps per slot. Production samples of the PCI3800, PrairieComm's EGPRS/GSM/GPRS multi-mode baseband processor, are currently available.

"PrairieComm has been developing EGPRS technology for over two years and have had silicon available for over one," said Ed Roney, Chief Technology Officer, PrairieComm. "We're demonstrating that we are ready for an EGPRS commercial launch in the second half of this year."

For PrairieComm's TDMA customers, EGPRS is the natural evolution in their product roadmaps. Moving from TDMA to EGPRS is a seamless transition because the PCI3800, like all of PrairieComm's baseband processors, is built on a common platform. PrairieComm's model of designing all baseband processors using a common architecture not only gives customers greater flexibility and shortens time-to-market, it enables them to support aggressive 3G technology business plans and schedules.

About PrairieComm

PrairieComm, Inc., based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., develops and markets chipsets, embedded software and licensed intellectual property for CDMA, TDMA, GSM and 3G UMTS wireless technologies that give its customer-partners "The Power To Compete" in the worldwide digital cellular marketplace. PrairieComm is at the heart of wireless personal communications providing chipsets for mobile wireless products from the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers.