Motorola today announced the i.Smart smartphone reference design for combining voice and data functions by using the company's i.250 Innovative Convergence GSM/GPRS platform and i.MX media extension applications processor.

The goal of the reference design is to help get OEMs' smartphone design concepts up and running on a 2.5G network quickly. The interesting thing about i.Smart is its ability to support multiple platforms, including eLinux, Symbian OS, Windows CE, and the Palm OS.

According to the company, the i.Smart smartphone solution has built-in flexibility that can be migrated to existing mobile standards ranging from 2G to 3G, and is designed to adapt as future standards emerge. The company claims benefits to smartphone developers include:

-- High performance/low power consumption applications processor
-- Open architecture for hosting a wide range of compelling applications
-- Power efficiency, with exceptional battery life and superb performance
-- High-level system-on-chip integration
-- Best-in-class development tools and environment
-- Multi-OS and multi-system availability
-- Bluetooth wireless technology
-- Seamless integration and one-stop-shopping for key components

The i.Smart smartphone reference design is slated to be available for demonstration at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, France, February 17-21. Motorola expects it to be available during the second half of this year.