austriamicrosystems, one of the leading analog and mixed signal semiconductor manufacturers, and Bharti Teletech, India's largest manufacturer of fixed line phones under the brand name Beetel, today announced an agreement to use austriamicrosystems' multi-standard CMOS single-chip telephone IC to design its comprehensive range of wireline phones. austriamicrosystems is the only single-chip CMOS phone IC provider in the world - a position that is reinforced by this landmark agreement.

With a population of more than 1 billion, and around 43 million telephone lines currently installed, India represents huge potential for wireline services.

Using austriamicrosystems' first-of-a-kind single-chip CMOS IC, Bharti expects to offer a series of unique features to its customers such as ultra high-quality speech transmission and reception circuitry, crystal-clear audio quality, automatic volume control systems and outstanding electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), which prevents GSM line interference and is in compliance with the industry norm EN55024.

The overall performance of a telephone is directly influenced by the EMC behavior of the electronic components and integrated circuits it contains. austriamicrosystems' single-chip telephone IC has been designed to meet EMC requirements using CMOS technology thus making it easier for telephone manufacturers to comply with EMC regulations.

"Bharti Teletech is focused on ensuring that it continues to grow by constantly adding value to their products through in-house R&D efforts, as well as outsourcing contemporary technology at affordable prices. We are very pleased to be joining hands with austriamicrosystems and are looking forward to leveraging its world-class technology," said Mr. Pawan Kapur, CEO of Bharti Teletech.

"austriamicrosystems has been in the wireline telephony business since 1989, and today, we are the supplier of choice to many OEMs worldwide," said Gary Lee, austriamicrosystems' regional manager for India. "Bharti is India's leading manufacturer of fixed line phones, and going forward, our single-chip telephone ICs will be at the heart of Indian analog telephones, helping Bharti to maintain its leading position in this highly competitive market."

The true single-chip telephone highlights austriamicrosystems' expertise in mixed signal design. Available in a wide range of pin options, the IC is easily adaptable to the requirements of different PTTs worldwide. These are cheaper and easier to handle than multiple ICs. The highly complex circuitry, which includes an analog line interface in CMOS, is unique in the industry.

About Bharti
Bharti Teletech is India's leading telephone instrument manufacturing company and is the largest on the globe outside China. Established in 1985, the company's manufacturing operations are spread across two ISO-9000 certified plants in Panjim (Goa) and Ludhiana (Punjab) with an installed capacity of 5 million telephone units annually. An in-house Centre for Excellence with industrial and engineering design capability and equipped with facility for product reliability and life tests ensures a quality standard that compares with the best internationally.
Bharti Teletech produces a comprehensive basket of customer premise equipments, comprising of over 30 models spanning the basic, feature-rich and cordless telephone categories, under the Beetel brand. Beetel commands a market share of over 40% in both the open retail and tender market segments. The company has been in the forefront of growing the open retail market by providing feature-rich and world-class telephone products at affordable prices. Bharti Teletech currently exports to 30 countries in five continents, including the PTT markets. Exports comprise about 17% of its turnover.
Bharti Teletech is a subsidiary of India's leading integrated telecommunications group, Bharti Enterprises.

About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems AG is a leading designer and manufacturer of highly integrated analog intensive mixed signal ICs. austriamicrosystems combines more than 20 years of design capabilities, product and marketing know-how with its own cutting edge analog manufacturing and test facilities. Operating worldwide with more than 800 employees, austriamicrosystems serves four strategic markets: Communications, Industry & Medical, Automotive and Full-Service Foundry. austriamicrosystems is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ticker symbol: AMS).