Sanyo-Beceem deal hints at dual-mode WiMAX/CDMA phones

Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. announced it will use chips from Beceem Communications for its planned dual-mode CDMA/WiMAX mobile phones. The agreement is notable as Sanyo is a major handset supplier to CDMA carrier Sprint Nextel Corp., which is in the process of building out a mobile WiMAX network in the United States.
“Sanyo has chosen Beceem because of its continued leadership in mobile WiMAX,” said Tetsuhiro Maeda, a Sanyo VP. “We believe that the BCS200 (Beceem’s WiMAX chip) is a vital component in our ability to develop CDMA/802.16e handsets that deliver the features and performance that operators and consumers expect in a Sanyo handset.”
Sanyo did not offer details on its WiMAX plans, other than to say the Beceem chips are for a mobile WiMAX phone that will also support CDMA networks. Sanyo, a tier-two handset vendor, makes phone in Asia but also has a U.S. handset supply agreement with Sprint Nextel. Indeed, Sanyo is often at the forefront of Sprint Nextel’s mobile phone innovations.
Sprint Nextel is building a mobile WiMAX network if a variety of major U.S. cities. Nokia Corp., which is supplying portions of the carrier’s network, has said it will also supply mobile WiMAX devices.
Sanyo joins Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. in announcing plans to use Beceem WiMAX chips in planned WiMAX phones.