Ericsson Mobile Platforms

Ericsson Mobile Platforms AB, commonly abbreviated EMP, was an Ericsson company that supplied the technological foundations used by other manufacturers to develop cellular phones. Rather than selling finished handsets or manufacturing semiconductors itself, EMP operated as a fabless mobile-platform provider. It created reference designs, software, radio technology, and related intellectual property, while manufacturing partners produced compatible chips for sale to EMP customers. The company emerged from the restructuring of Ericsson Mobile Communications during the European telecommunications crisis of the early 2000s. Ericsson separated its consumer mobile-terminal activities into Sony Ericsson, a joint venture with Sony, while another part of the mobile communications business became Ericsson Mobile Platforms. EMP concentrated on supplying platforms to third-party handset makers, especially for the transition from second-generation and intermediate-generation cellular systems to third-generation UMTS and WCDMA networks. Its customers and licensees included Sony Ericsson, Flextronics, HTC, LG Electronics, NEC, Sagem, Sharp, Amoi, Samsung, and other manufacturers. The company’s role was particularly important for manufacturers that wanted to launch phones supporting standards such as GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, and HSDPA without building every element of the underlying chipset and software architecture internally. Ericsson described EMP as holding one of the world’s largest portfolios of 2G, 2.5G, and 3G intellectual property, with more than 20,000 granted patents worldwide. EMP inherited and further developed internal mobile platforms that had originated within Ericsson Mobile Communications. These included platform families and software environments associated with Ericsson’s earlier handset development work, including the Open Platform API, or OPA, used across a number of Sony Ericsson phones in Europe. The company also developed platform products targeted at particular radio standards and handset requirements. In 2006 it began deliveries of the U350 and U360 platforms, compact solutions combining HSDPA and EDGE capabilities. The U350 supported quad-band EDGE and single-band HSDPA, while the U360 added support for three HSDPA bands. EMP also absorbed selected activities from Ericsson Technology Licensing after that organization was dismantled at the end of 2004. This strengthened the company’s licensing and intellectual-property base. In October 2008, EMP demonstrated a handheld prototype based on LTE technology and estimated that commercial availability could arrive around 2011, illustrating its attempt to extend its platform business into fourth-generation mobile communications. On February 12, 2009, Ericsson announced that EMP would be combined with ST-NXP Wireless, the mobile-platform business associated with STMicroelectronics and NXP. The resulting 50:50 joint venture, ST-Ericsson, was intended to provide a broader platform supplier for the rapidly changing handset industry. Ericsson Mobile Platforms disappeared as an independent legal entity during the 2009 integration. ST-Ericsson itself was later dismantled in 2013, with remaining activities distributed between Ericsson’s modem operations and STMicroelectronics. EMP is therefore best understood as a historical Ericsson technology business rather than a currently operating handset brand.

Ericsson Mobile Platforms was created during the reorganization of Ericsson Mobile Communications in the aftermath of the European telecommunications crisis of the early 2000s. Ericsson’s former mobile communications operation had become unprofitable, prompting a division of activities. Consumer handset development was combined with Sony’s mobile-phone business to form Sony Ericsson, while the platform and technology-supply activities were organized as Ericsson Mobile Platforms. The new company served a different role from a handset manufacturer. EMP developed the technical basis from which other companies could build phones, including semiconductor reference designs, software, radio implementations, and licensing packages. It did not fabricate its own chips. Instead, it worked with semiconductor manufacturers that produced components based on EMP designs and intellectual property, with those components supplied to EMP customers. This fabless structure allowed EMP to focus on platform engineering, standards compliance, and intellectual-property licensing. Its main strategic focus was third-generation mobile communications, particularly UMTS and WCDMA. EMP became one of the early companies to license 3G platforms to handset manufacturers and was also associated with commercially launched handsets using WCDMA, EDGE, and GPRS technologies. Customers and licensees included Sony Ericsson, Flextronics, HTC, LG Electronics, NEC, Sagem, Sharp, Amoi, Samsung, and other device companies. The model helped manufacturers enter or expand in 3G markets without developing an entire cellular platform from the ground up. EMP inherited internal platform work from Ericsson Mobile Communications, including platform families that had been developed under internal code names and the Open Platform API environment used in parts of the Sony Ericsson handset portfolio. At the end of 2004, Ericsson Technology Licensing was dismantled and selected activities were transferred into EMP. This further connected the company’s platform business with Ericsson’s broader patent and licensing resources. During the middle of the decade, EMP expanded its offering for increasingly demanding mobile-broadband devices. In 2006 it began deliveries of the U350 and U360 platforms, described as especially small HSDPA/EDGE solutions. The U350 supported quad-band EDGE and single-band HSDPA, while the U360 supported three HSDPA bands. These products reflected the market’s movement toward compact phones combining legacy GSM-family technologies with faster packet-data connectivity. EMP later investigated the next generation of mobile broadband. On October 3, 2008, it demonstrated an LTE handheld prototype. The demonstration showed that the company was preparing to support fourth-generation cellular products, although EMP expected commercial availability only around 2011. The prototype was part of a broader industry transition in which platform suppliers sought to provide handset makers with integrated support for new radio standards. The company’s independent existence ended as the mobile-platform market consolidated. On February 12, 2009, Ericsson announced that EMP would merge with ST-NXP Wireless, the mobile-platform operation connected with STMicroelectronics and NXP. The new business, ST-Ericsson, was structured as a 50:50 joint venture between Ericsson and STMicroelectronics. Ericsson Mobile Platforms ceased to exist as a separate legal entity during the integration. ST-Ericsson later collapsed as a joint venture in 2013, after which remaining activities were divided between Ericsson’s modem operations and STMicroelectronics. EMP consequently survives mainly as a historical example of Ericsson’s role in licensing cellular platforms and mobile intellectual property to handset manufacturers.

• 2013

  ST-Ericsson activities separated

  [2]ST-Ericssonen.wikipedia.org

  The ST-Ericsson joint venture collapsed, with remaining activities distributed between Ericsson’s modem operations and STMicroelectronics.

• 2009

  EMP merged into ST-Ericsson

  [1]Ericsson Mobile Platformsen.wikipedia.org

  Ericsson announced the combination of EMP with ST-NXP Wireless to create ST-Ericsson, a 50:50 Ericsson–STMicroelectronics joint venture.

• 2008

  LTE handheld prototype demonstrated

  [1]Ericsson Mobile Platformsen.wikipedia.org

  EMP showcased a handheld LTE prototype and projected commercial availability of the technology around 2011.

• 2006

  U350 and U360 platform deliveries begin

  [1]Ericsson Mobile Platformsen.wikipedia.org

  EMP began deliveries of compact HSDPA/EDGE platforms designed for handset manufacturers.

• 2004

  Selected Ericsson Technology Licensing activities transferred to EMP

  [1]Ericsson Mobile Platformsen.wikipedia.org

  After Ericsson Technology Licensing was dismantled, selected parts of its activities were incorporated into Ericsson Mobile Platforms.

• 2001

  Early licensing of 3G mobile platforms

  [1]Ericsson Mobile Platformsen.wikipedia.org

  EMP became one of the first platform providers to license 3G technology to mobile-phone manufacturers.

• Formation from Ericsson Mobile Communications restructuring

  [1]Ericsson Mobile Platformsen.wikipedia.org

  Ericsson organized the platform-oriented part of its former mobile communications business as Ericsson Mobile Platforms while consumer handset activities moved into Sony Ericsson.

A business-to-business mobile-platform and intellectual-property supplier for handset manufacturers, positioned between cellular research and finished mobile devices. EMP enabled licensees to build compatible phones and chips around Ericsson reference designs and radio-standard expertise.

• HSDPA/EDGE mobile platform · 2006

  U350

  The U350 was a compact mobile platform supplied to handset manufacturers. It combined quad-band EDGE support with single-band HSDPA capability, allowing devices to support established GSM-family data services alongside faster third-generation packet data. EMP presented it as one of its smallest HSDPA/EDGE platforms.

• HSDPA/EDGE mobile platform · 2006

  U360

  The U360 extended the compact platform concept with support for three HSDPA bands in addition to EDGE functionality. It was intended for manufacturers developing multiband handsets for markets with different network configurations and represented EMP’s effort to simplify the design of small mobile-broadband devices.

• Mobile software platform

  Open Platform API (OPA)

  Open Platform API, or OPA, was a software and platform environment used across Sony Ericsson phones in Europe. It formed part of the platform technology inherited and developed from Ericsson’s earlier mobile communications work and illustrates EMP’s role in supplying underlying technology rather than selling a consumer handset range under its own name.

• 3G cellular platform · 2001

  WCDMA/UMTS mobile platforms

  EMP’s WCDMA and UMTS platforms provided handset makers with technology for third-generation cellular products. They combined Ericsson radio expertise, platform software, reference designs, and related intellectual-property rights. These offerings were central to the company’s licensing business and supported phones produced by several international manufacturers.

• 4G cellular technology demonstrator · 2008

  LTE handheld prototype

  The LTE handheld prototype demonstrated EMP’s work on fourth-generation mobile technology. Shown publicly in 2008, it was not identified as a mass-market product, but as a technology demonstration intended to show how LTE could be incorporated into future handheld devices.

• 2009

  Combine EMP with ST-NXP WirelessM&A

  Background

  The mobile-platform market was consolidating while handset makers increasingly required broader support for multiple generations of cellular standards. Ericsson and STMicroelectronics sought to combine complementary platform activities.

  Action taken

  Ericsson announced that Ericsson Mobile Platforms would be merged with ST-NXP Wireless into ST-Ericsson, owned equally by Ericsson and STMicroelectronics.

  Aftermath

  Ericsson Mobile Platforms disappeared as an independent legal entity during the 2009 integration. ST-Ericsson later ceased operating as a joint venture in 2013.

  Source

• 2008

  Demonstrate LTE handheld technologyProduct launch

  Background

  The mobile industry was beginning to move from 3G technologies toward LTE and other fourth-generation systems.

  Action taken

  EMP showcased a handheld LTE prototype and stated that it expected the technology to become available for the market around 2011.

  Aftermath

  The demonstration preceded the company’s integration into ST-Ericsson and did not develop into an independent EMP commercial handset platform.

  Source

1. 1Ericsson Mobile Platformsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ST-Ericssonen.wikipedia.org