National Semiconductor Designs All-In-One Mobile DeviceNational Semiconductor Designs All-In-One Mobile Device

National Semiconductor Corp.'s new mobile device, dubbed the Geode Origami Mobile Communicator, folds and swivels to reveal a digital camera, an MP3 player, a mobile phone, a PDA, a video camcorder, and a videoconferencing terminal. Origami uses National Semi's processors and audio components, Bluetooth wireless technology for network connectivity, and Microsoft Windows Embedded XP. On the handheld device, users can access E-mail, Internet Explorer 6.0, Windows Media player, and NetMeeting, Windows' videoconferencing application.

The product is still in the prototype stage, but could be on the market as soon as next summer, says Stephen Mattson, conceptual products group manager at National Semi. The company plans to turn over the prototype to original equipment manufacturers to modify and market to professionals and consumers.

When designing the Origami, Mattson says he had himself in mind as a target customer. "What I wanted was a device that kept me in communication with my family and allowed me to record special moments with my family," he says. Mattson expects manufacturers to target mobile professionals who want the functionality of all their digital devices to be accessible from one unit.

While consumers have come to enjoy fast-food combo meals, there are drawbacks to combination technology. If one function breaks, how does that affect other functions? In the case of the Origami, Mattson says, "If the camera broke, it would disable a lot of things. The camera is the imaging device, and if it broke then you would have no video phone, camcorder, or digital camera." He adds, however, that since the Origami is still a prototype, there's time to work out the kinks before the device reaches store shelves.