Wacom Launches Single-Chip Solution

You remember Wacom? Those guys that gave us those really cool graphics tablets back in the nineties? Well guess who has their sites set on the mobile PDA/Smartphone market?

PRESS RELEASE

Wacom launches a single-chip solution to improve mobile phone usability and speed new application adoption

Wacom’s proven inductive pen sensing technology now integrated into a single mobile IC


VANCOUVER, Wash., September 27, 2004 – Wacom today announced its new W8002 mixed-signal IC. Developed to meet the needs of mobile phone and other consumer electronics manufacturers, it allows the easy integration of Wacom’s proven inductive pen sensing technology into mobile devices, such as Smartphones and personal digital assistants.
With the W8002 single chip solution, Wacom’s inductive pen sensing technology will, for the first time, help developers overcome the limitations of increasingly complex mobile device user interfaces. Wacom’s cordless, battery-free pen with flight point feature (the ability to hover without touching the screen) and pressure sensing capability will accelerate the development and adoption of a range of new ‘killer’ mobile applications.

The W8002 is an integral part of Wacom’s Penabled™ inductive pen sensing solution. This is made up of the W8002 embedded sensor and an ultra-slim cordless and battery-free pen. The W8002 will be sampled to customers in the third quarter of 2004.

“The Wacom W8002 sensor controller will help mobile device manufacturers take the functionality of mobile phones to the next level,” said Joseph Deal, CEO and President, Wacom Technology Corporation. “Service adoption to increase mobile operator revenue will rely as much on the interface as on the applications and computing performance of the device. The capability to integrate Wacom’s Penabled technology into a single chip removes the device usability restrictions imposed by existing technologies to make input and navigation simple for the consumer. ”


CHECK OUT THE FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE