Qualcomm, Atheros team up for dual-mode phones

Qualcomm is teaming up with networking silicon vendor Atheros Communications on a reference design for dual-mode cell and Wi-Fi phones, the companies announced Friday.

The design, which the companies expect to ship to handset makers starting in June, combines an Atheros single-chip Wi-Fi client with Qualcomm chipsets for cellular networks in both the GSM and CDMA technology families. The vendors expect handsets based on the reference design to ship by the end of this year.