We propose an efficient digital IF down converter architecture for dual-mode WCDMA/cdma2000 based on the concept of software defined radio. Multi-rate digital filters and fractional frequency conversion techniques are adopted to implement the front end of a dual-mode receiver for WCDMA and cdma2000. A sub-sampled digital IF stage was proposed to support both WCDMA and cdma2000 while lowering the sampling frequency. Use of a CIC filter and ISOP filter combined with proper arrangement of multi-rate filters and common filter blocks resulted in optimized hardware implementation of the front end block in 292k logic gates.