Wireless for the Convergence Era

The handportable convergence devices, multimedia computers, are extremely complex embedded systems that need to have all functional blocks custom-made for mobility. The combination of miniaturization and functionality is unprecedented compared to other consumer products. This paper discusses the challenges that digital convergence is introducing to research in wireless systems and radio implementation. In the area of wireless systems, there are several competing standards in particular for wireless broadband. The modem, on the other hand, is evolving into a multiradio. For radio implementation, the invariant requirements for competitiveness call for continuous innovativeness. The main showstopper in terms of performance and functionality of a convergence device is the strictly limited power consumption.