TI unveils DSL modem maker chip

SAN FRANCISCO: Semiconductor maker Texas Instruments Inc. has introduced a new product offering manufacturers of super-high bandwidth modems. A modem built with the new AR7 router-on-a-chip would have more than 50 percent more processing power and would require roughly half as many total components within the modem, Texas Instruments said.

By using fewer components, manufacturers would be able to bring modem products to market faster to tap growing demand for digital subscriber line-based services, according to the Dallas-based chipmaker.

The AR7 chip, which runs on Linux and VxWorks operating systems and comes with a network software package, will be available to manufacturer customers immediately and products using the chip will be on the market by year"s end, Texas Instruments said.

"The DSL (digital subscriber line) market is striving to increase the availability of service and retain customers with new applications," said Mike Wolf, Texas Instruments" director of enterprise and residential communications. "With the AR7, TI is allowing operators to affordably deliver improved home networking, gaming and even video applications to increase end-user benefits."

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