TI: Low-End Cell Phone Technology Selling WellTI: Low-End Cell Phone Technology Selling Well

Texas Instruments reported that it has shipped 6 million of its "eCosto" single-chip mobile phone technology aimed at volume low-priced, basic-featured cell phones while noting that the high end smart phone market has been slowing.

The semiconductor firm made the comments Monday in connection with the release of its fourth quarter financial statement. TI said revenue hit $3.46 billion for the quarter while profit was $668 million. The company said its revenue grew 4 percent from the comparable quarter a year before with profit also up from $655 million.

The eCosto shipments were a bright spot. TI noted that the single-chip approach makes cell phones more affordable. The platform integrates an OMAP applications processor and modem function using TI's differentiated digital RF processor technology.

The processor is aimed at the GSM, GPRS, and EDGE standards markets. "It's ramping very quickly," said TI chief financial officer Kevin March of the processor. The firm noted that the chip is being used in booming low-end phone markets in China and India.

In a statement, Rich Templeton, TI president and CEO, said: "Challenges continue in the first quarter as we operate in an environment where customers want lower levels of inventory and where growth in the wireless market is skewed to low-prices, basic-featured cell phones instead of higher-priced, full-featured phones."