Peek Under The Hood: Danger's Hiptop is 'Arm'ed and dangerous

By David Carey
iApplianceWeb
(03/06/03, 02:25:32 AM EDT)

Danger Inc.'s Hiptop device takes a shot at an emerging youth market for integrated wireless data and voice capabilities, using a unique system form factor. Based on the GSM/GPRS standard, the Hiptop acts as a cell phone, modified Web browser, e-mail client and personal information manager.

A key part of the profit equation for Danger rests on data and messaging services. Danger's initial wireless carrier partner, T-Mobile-which markets the device as the Sidekick-requires a $39.95 per month data-plus-voice contract. That's a high minimum by current standards, because a portion of the revenue stream returns to Danger.

The Hiptop's focus on a young-adult market is evident in its "soap bar" industrial design and high-resolution gray-scale LCD, which swivels to reveal a smallish Qwerty keypad. A multicolor illuminated thumb wheel for navigation and an edgy user interface are part of an overall package that screams "different." A multipurpose accessory jack provides an interface for the included external headset and low-resolution accessory camera plug-in.

The Danger Hiptop contains four printed-circuit boards that support a total of 557 parts-including 34 integrated circuits-with more than 2,500 connections. Benchmark Electronics is the initial manufacturer of the device. Flextronics has been named a second, perhaps future producer.

See related chart

Danger's Web site lists technology partners including Intel for GPRS, Beatnik for audio, Kyocera for the camera and TTPCom for the communications protocol stack. Strangely absent from the list was Samsung, apparently a silent partner.

A Samsung ASIC with an ARM7 core acts as the primary applications processor, which itself is supported by a 16-Mbyte Samsung SDRAM. Samsung also supplies the lithium-ion battery and high-resolution LCD, reinforcing the notion of a deeper design involvement by the South Korean manufacturer.

See related chart

Major devices on the GSM/GPRS radio board include baseband circuitry from Analog Devices, a dual-band transceiver and low-noise amplifier from Infineon, and power amplifiers from Motorola-quite a mix.

The estimated cost of goods sold for the Hiptop is well below $150, suggesting a small net profit given a $200 post-rebate hardware price via T-Mobile. But it remains to be seen whether a device like the Sidekick-aimed at a youth market but service-priced for adults-hits its target.

DAVID CAREY IS PRESIDENT OF PORTELLIGENT (WWW.TEARDOWN.COM). THE AUSTIN, TEXAS-BASED COMPANY PRODUCES TEARDOWN REPORTS AND RELATED INDUSTRY RESEARCH ON WIRELESS, MOBILE AND PERSONAL ELECTRONICS.

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