GaAs IC receivers for wireless communications: what makes them so good?

A. Abstract The technical feasibilit GaAs Monolithic circuits for wireless communicatmi application has been long proven in theory and practice [l-41. Still, the commercial success of the GaAs monolithic parts is not always guaranteed. In a paper published recently [5], an explanation was offered which attributes the reluctance of the large manufacturers to replace existing designs with monolithic designs. The muse according to the author is that competing designs based on dwrete components are as inexpensive and available as monolithlc solutions. This in fact is probably the single most important obstacle to a widespread commercial success of GaAs m o n o l i ~ c receivers for consumer wireless applications so far.