ishoni’s 2G chipsets in alpha stage

BANGALORE: ishoni Networks, engaged in providing chipsets for Broadband

networks, is developing a Second Generation (2G) chipset for broadband network

integrating VPN (Virtual Private Network), Voice, Internet, Firewall and Video.

The new chipset is to be released by the second quarter of the financial year

2002-03.

The company’s vice president and managing director for India operations,

Vivek Mansingh, said, "The chipset is in the alpha stage of its development

and about 150 engineers are involved in the development. The second quarter

should be able to witness the chipset in its production and ready to market

stage." Roughly, about 12 to 18 months were spent on the development of

this chipset. Integrating VPN, voice, Internet, firewall and video are the highlights of the chipset, he added.

The chips, once developed, will be sent to OEMs to be beta tested. Once

approved and successful, the design will be moved to silicon chip manufacturers

in Taiwan and Korea. Recently ishoni’s DV2000 Gateway-on-a-Chip platform, a

first generation chipset, was selected by Accton to develop the latter’s new

line of voice over DSL equipment on ishoni’s platform.

"Basically the chipsets are developed for the American SOHO, home and

telecommuter markets where broadband is utilized to the optimum. However, the

market slowdown will enable leapfrog in technology and we stand to gain from

this. The launch of our 2G chipset will also be timed well for the market

demand. Subsequently the Asia Pacific market is also expected to grow in the

broadband arena," commented Singh.

The company has received about $65 million in two rounds of funding and doesn’t

need any more, at least immediately, confessed the managing director.