Vadem, while not exactly a startup, is riding the mobile communications/ computing wave. The company makes a family of microcontrollers, PCMCIA controllers and LCD VGA controllers for handheld devices. It helped develop leading handhelds such as the Zenith-Z171, Sharp PC4500, PC7000 and PT9000 and HP OmniGo amongst others. Its flagship IC is the VG330 which integrates a x86 compatible core, PCMCIA controller, VGA LCD controller, IR capability as well as peripheral and power mgmt. support. Future products will include MIPS platforms for handhelds. Applications include handheld POS terminals, high-end organizers, email/internet terminals, and next generation cellular phones.

While PDAs have been around for years, we believe the convergence of Windows CE, the internet, and wireless technologies will result in an explosion of handheld devices. Vadem is well positioned to ride this wave. NEC and Vadem recently announced a strategic alliance to develop handheld Windows CE solutions based on NEC's VR4100TM MIPS processor. Vadem will supply companion chips and complete reference designs. Also announced recently, Vadem's Modular Bus Architecture will help accelerate the time to market for complex system-on-chip designs. MBA establishes a standard interface between CPU cores and on-chip peripherals such as LCD controllers, IrDA links, serial, parallel, keyboard ports, USB, etc. This technology will be licensed as well as incorporated in Vadem's chip designs.

We've never been big fans of the current generation of PDAs, although we love our 4lb laptops. However, the convergence of Windows CE, wireless communications, inter/intranets and a new level of IC integration (including 3V 64Mbit DRAMs and FLASH) should finally result in an plethora of useful handheld devices. The Pacific Rim and North American territories appear to be well represented. In Europe, Vadem only has reps. in the UK, Germany and Italy - that still leaves a lot of open territory.

Chikok Shing - President (Prior to founding Vadem, Mr. Shing was in product marketing at Osborne Computer!)
Ahmet Alpdemir - VP of Marketing
John Kamps - VP of Sales