Marvell today introduced the PXA3xx family of application processors (internally named Monahans) based on third generation of Intel XScale technology. The first processor in the family to ship in volume is the PXA320 (Monahans-P), scalable to 806MHz. Customers will be introducing devices based on the PXA320 in the first quarter of 2007. The PXA320 was demonstrated earlier this year running at 1.2GHz.

As for the rest of the family, the PXA300 (Monahans-L) is aimed at cost-sensitive high volume handheld devices while the Marvell PXA310 (Monahan-LV) provides increased performance for 3G video and audio use. Both products are scalable to 624MHz and are software compatible with Marvell PXA320. Furthermore, the Monahans family is compliant with the ARM architecture, allowing existing ARM-based applications to be ported quickly to the PXA3xx family.

“Today’s consumers require that their personal wireless converged devices support a broad range of mobile multimedia applications including Bluetooth support, web browsing and camera support – all with extended talk time and a seamless mobile internet experience,” said Sam Arditi Senior Vice President of the Cellular and Handheld Group at Marvell. “Ramping three products in the Marvell PXA3xx family virtually at the same time gives our customers the flexibility to address different markets with an optimized product either for MIPS, video or cost – all with extremely low power consumption. All Marvell PXA3xx products feature frequency scalability to allow the best power and performance.”

All Monahans processors come with Wireless Intel SpeedStep with MusicMax technology to provide intelligent power management, enabling varying power states so users can listen up to 30 hours of MP3s on their handsets. Intel VideoMax technology in the PXA3xx family of application processors supports H.264 encoded 30fps video at D1 resolution, and will deliver improved resolution with future versions of the PXA3xx processors. The PXA3xx family also supports digital cameras, and advanced camera effects such as image stabilization for up to 5 Megapixel camera sensors.

All products in the family are either shipping in volume or available in samples now, and will be shipping in volume in the first half of 2007. Marvell recently completed its acquisition of Intel’s cellular communications and applications processor business, which included chip designs such as the one launched today, for $600 million earlier this month.