Will the multimode wireless transceiver soon resemble a software-defined radio?

Abstract

The signs are clear: competition among handset makers is forcing them to replace today's multiplicity of ad hoc standard-specific modules and associated RF passive filters and duplexers by a highly integrated universal transceiver platform that connects directly to the antenna. This platform, with the ability to tune continuously from 80 MHz to 6 GHz, should support all 2G and 3G cellular standards as well as wireless data connectivity. These are all the attributes of software-defined radio.