RF Micro Devices announced today that it has begun production shipments of the 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver that will be built into the Nintendo DS handheld system. The chipset will enable the DS to link wirelessly to other DS units in range, allowing users to transmit text messages and drawings to each other using the PictoChat software, which will also be embedded in the system.

A leading provider of low-cost, high-performance RF chipsets, RFMD currently partners with most of the world's leading cell phone manufacturers, from Motorola to Nokia to Sony Ericsson. Its partnership with Nintendo represents a major move into the video game realm for the company. Kris Rausch, product line director of wireless LAN products at RF Micro Devices, said, "We are extremely excited to be working with Nintendo, the world's leading name in the gaming industry."

"RFMD's energy-efficient wireless device enables Nintendo to include wireless technology in the Nintendo DS handheld at a low cost," said Satoru Okada, general manager, research and engineering, at Nintendo. "The embedded wireless functionality will enable developers to create rich game designs that were not considered possible in the past, further expanding the fascinating world of the Nintendo DS."