Today, NVIDIA announced that their Icera 410 LTE modem has been approved for use in tablets and clamshell devices on AT&T’s network. While that does not mention smartphone use yet, this is a step towards LTE and Tegra 3 coming to the States in at least some form. As we have documented plenty of times, NVIDIA has been unable to pair its quad-core mobile processor with LTE because its biggest competitor (Qualcomm) is the only guy making LTE modems at this time and likely does not feel like sharing. With today’s approval, this should bring NVIDIA up to speed in no time (assuming they get the smartphone approval too).

Also of note, is the fact that this is a single multimode modem that houses LTE, HSPA+, 3G and 2G. So rather than the battery sucking powers of current dual-hardware LTE setups, this should help battery life immensely.

Lastly, you are probably wondering, “What about Verizon? When will we see Tegra 3 and LTE on Big Red?” That, my friends, is a question that may have a dark answer. According to all things Icera, it doesn’t appear as if NVIDIA’s modems will have CDMA2000 support (Verizon’s 3G network), so unless something changes drastically in the next few months, this may be an AT&T thing only for a while. I’ll dig for confirmation on this.

Update:  NVIDIA has given us more details on how this could impact CDMA2000 networks (Verizon and Sprint). They made it clear that the Tegra 3 works with LTE modems from companies like Renenas, GCT, and ST Ericsson, so there is still a chance for LTE + Tegra 3 on Verizon. However, the Icera modem that gained AT&T approval today does not support CDMA2000. 

NVIDIA Icera Modem Chipset Validated on AT&T LTE Network

SANTA CLARA, CA — (Marketwire) — 05/24/2012 – NVIDIA today announced that the NVIDIA® Icera® 410 LTE multimode data modem chipset for tablets and clamshell devices has been tested and validated for operation on the AT&T 4G LTE network.

AT&T qualification tests help ensure that product manufacturers can confidently select chipsets that integrate with connected devices and can quickly achieve final product qualification.

“Validation with AT&T is an achievement that paves the way for NVIDIA Icera-powered LTE devices on the AT&T network through this year and next,” said Stan Boland, senior vice president of Mobile Communications at NVIDIA.

The NVIDIA Icera 410 LTE modem delivers lightning-fast web browsing, video streaming and multiplayer gaming to tablets and clamshell devices. It is the first Icera modem to implement 4G LTE in NVIDIA’s software defined radio baseband processor. Together with its multimode radio transceiver, the chipset offers 4G LTE at category 2 data rates (up to 50 Mbps) as well as 4G HSPA+, 3G and 2G compatibility.

Useful Links:
http://www.nvidia.com/tegra
http://www.nvidia.com/object/tegra-superchip.html
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nvidia-icera-products.html

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) awakened the world to computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Today, its processors power a broad range of products from smartphones to supercomputers. NVIDIA’smobile processors are used in cell phones, tablets and auto infotainment systems. PC gamers rely on GPUs to enjoy spectacularly immersive worlds. Professionals use them to create 3D graphics and visual effects in movies and to design everything from golf clubs to jumbo jets. And researchers utilize GPUs to advance the frontiers of science with high performance computing. The company has more than 5,000 patents issued, allowed or filed, including ones covering ideas essential to modern computing. For more information, see www.nvidia.com.

Tegra 3 Quad-core and LTE are Finally Coming, NVIDIA’s Icera 410 LTE Modem Approved by AT&T is a post from: Droid Life

Today, NVIDIA is making waves by creating the first smartphone powered purely by their processors. The ZTE Mimosa X runs on a  Tegra 2 application processor that will work together with their new Icera 450 modem. The first device of its kind. It shall run Ice Cream Sandwich and feature a 4.3″ qHD display, 5MP back camera, front camera for video chatting, and 4GB of internal storage.

The device is set for a Q2 2012 launch and only capable of connecting to HSPA+ networks, so no luck for Verizon customers. But if it did, would you think about spending your money on a pure NVIDIA device? As new modem tech, it’ll be something to watch out for during the next year. NVIDIA is claiming that their Icera modems consume power at ultra-low levels, something many of us complain about with current chipsets, especially those that connect to LTE networks. While none of their Icera chips appear to be compatible with CDMA, they do have a 410 model that can connect to LTE and HSPA+.

We will likely see a push by NVIDIA to get companies to use nothing but their modems and application processors going forward. If they can lead the charge in modem tech as they have done with app processors, this should be something to watch closely.  

More on Icera modems.

First Tegra-powered Smartphone Announced with NVIDIA’s Icera Modem Technology

New ZTE Mimosa X Brings the NVIDIA Mobile Experience to the Mainstream Market

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Feb. 20, 2012—NVIDIA and ZTE today announced the ZTE Mimosa X, the first smartphone to be powered both by the NVIDIA ®Tegra ® application processor and its Icera® modem, which came to NVIDIA through its Icera acquisition in mid-2011.

“The ZTE Mimosa X is exciting for a few reasons,” said Michael Rayfield, General Manager of the Mobile business at NVIDIA. “The Mimosa X marks the first time NVIDIA technology powers all the major processors in a single smartphone, and also the first time a premium mobile computing experience is coming to the mainstream smartphone market.”

The Mimosa X is powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor, featuring a dual-core CPU and GeForce® GPU, and the NVIDIA Icera 450 HSPA+ modem, comprising baseband and RF processors, featuring excellent throughput and low power.  It will run Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), feature a 4.3-inch qHD (960 x 540) screen, rear 5 MP and front cameras, and 4 GB of storage expandable to 32 GB.

The ZTE Mimosa X will deliver super multimedia capabilities, including advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP), Dolby sound, digital living network alliance (DLNA) compatibility for easy sharing of content, HD video record and play, dual microphones, and built-in gyroscope.

The Mimosa X will be launched around Q2 2012. Positioned squarely for the mainstream market, it brings new levels of performance and connectivity to this large segment of users.

Consumers will now be able to use a mainstream smartphone to experience the same speedy web browsing, smooth multitasking, and HD video, as well as console-quality gaming with TegraZone, that was previously available only in high-end phones. TegraZone™ is NVIDIA’s free Android Market app that showcases the best games optimized for the Tegra processor.

The NVIDIA Icera 450 supports up to 21Mbps category 14 HSPA+ with fast downloads in fading channels, IceClear™ interference cancellation technology for even faster throughput at the cell edge and advanced Release 7 features for an ultra-low latency network response.

ZTE’s Mimosa X To Be First Smartphone Powered Solely By NVIDIA Processors, New Icera 450 Modem Included is a post from: Droid Life