GREENSBORO, N.C.-RF Micro Devices Inc. agreed to purchase IBM Corp.’s global positioning system development operation, the company said.
The acquisition provides RFMD with advanced GPS technology and access to IBM’s chipscale packaging technology. As part of the transaction, IBM has agreed to transfer to RFMD intellectual property associated with products using IBM’s Silicon Germanium technology, which reduces device size and power consumption. RFMD plans to file for patent protection.
IBM’s GPS development operation is composed primarily of engineers and technical marketing specialists. The acquisition will be incorporated into RFMD’s Communications Semiconductor division, and RFMD will add two new design centers in Fishkill, N.Y., and Irvine, Calif., as a result of the transaction.
RFMD anticipates the acquisition will add GPS functionality that will enable it to offer a complete radio solution that encompasses wireless local area network, Bluetooth, GPS and fully integrated radio capabilities for mobile handsets and other markets.
