MOUNTAIN
VIEW, CA—July 20, 2006—The
Linley Group, the leading supplier of technology analysis
and strategic consulting for semiconductors in networking,
communications, and consumer electronics, has released "A
Guide to SOHO Gateway Processors," a new report providing
in-depth analysis of processors for wireless LAN access points,
broadband gateways, and VoIP gateways.
The report reveals that chip suppliers are developing
advanced processors to support new IP-based services
as well as the
step-change increase in data rates provided by VDSL2, PON,
and 802.11n. Key factors in the new designs are cost reduction,
VoIP support, faster CPUs, multithreading, and separate
control- and data-plane processing. Many current
products, which were
originally designed for ADSL, cannot deliver these new
services without significant redesign.
“In
theory, large semiconductor companies with established
positions in the market should have insurmountable advantages,” says
Joseph Byrne, coauthor and senior analyst. “However,
the step to VDSL and PON data rates creates an opportunity
for aggressive vendors, both startups and established companies
new to gateway technologies, to displace the current market
leaders.”
For example, Infineon has improved its position with
a new high-performance DSL processor. Ikanos acquired
a fast
processor
from Analog Devices to pair with its leading VDSL technology.
PMC-Sierra acquired Passave, the top PON vendor, and
launched a new gateway processor for DSL. These companies
have made
bold moves in the face of incumbent leaders Broadcom,
Conexant, and Texas Instruments.
The new report provides an in-depth look at the technologies,
vendors, and products driving this rapidly developing
market, as well as market share, trends among service
providers,
and home-networking trends. The authors pay particular
attention to product features, performance, architectural
strengths
and weaknesses, system design, and vendor roadmaps.
The Linley Group’s expert analysis helps OEMs identify critical
differences in these products as well as conclusions about
likely winners in the context of market trends.
Unlike typical market research, this report provides
a balance between technology analysis and quantitative
market
data.
Which solutions will win designs and why? How will
these vendors be positioned as the gateway processor
market
continues to evolve? The Linley Group provides the
analysis necessary
to give you this forward-looking view.
About
The Linley Group
The Linley Group covers emerging areas such as SOHO
gateway processors, high-speed interconnects,
switch fabrics,
wireless handset processors, access processors,
network processors,
Gigabit Ethernet, security and content processors,
high-speed embedded processors, and more. The
company provides in-depth
technology reports and interactive seminars as
well as strategic consulting services tailored to
the individual client. To
get free access to The Linley Group's analysis
of
recent news and events in these markets, subscribe
to Linley
on CE, our free email newsletter.
