Qualcomm, Audiovox to bring MEMS direct-view display to market by holiday season


Traditional displays are virtually unreadable in outdoor light. Qualcomm says its displays are readable no matter the light level. (Photo: Qualcomm)

October 30, 2007 — Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Inc. has announced its collaboration with Audiovox Accessories Corp. to bring the industry’s first direct view MEMS display to market.

The Acoustic Research ARWH1 headset from Audiovox Accessories is the first product to feature an Interferometric Modulation (IMOD) display from Qualcomm. With a MSRP of $99.99, the ARWH2 headset will be available in retail locations by November 2007, in time for the holiday season.

Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc. has developed what it calls the industry’s first direct view MEMS display for mobile devices, offering low power consumption and superior viewing quality in a wide range of environmental conditions, including bright sunlight, the company said in a news release. Based on a reflective technology, Qualcomm’s MEMS displays require no backlighting and therefore consume significantly less power than standard displays in portable devices. The displays work by reflecting light so that specific wavelengths interfere with each other to create color. The phenomenon that makes a butterfly’s wings shimmer is the same process used in Qualcomm MEMS displays.

The Acoustic Research ARWH1 is one of the industry’s first Bluetooth headsets capable of delivering visual information — such as caller ID, battery level and status alerts — as icons and text on the main screen. Through the use of Qualcomm’s MEMS display, users are able to see this information in virtually all viewing environments.

“Customers will immediately appreciate Ubixon’s user friendly design and Qualcomm’s highly visible, low power MEMS display,” said Jim Cathey, vice president of business development at Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.

“This product has a distinct difference that will resonate with consumers who have to have the most innovative and highest quality wireless devices on the market,” said Lou Lenzi, senior vice president of product management, Audiovox Accessories.

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