Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the availability of its CellAirity(TM) multimedia mobile phone solution which, for the first time, enables manufacturers to develop handsets with leading-edge 3G functionality at 2G price points. The new WEDGE chipset is part of Broadcom's CellAirity mobile platform and provides advanced WEDGE (WCDMA + EDGE) connectivity to enable a new class of lower power, smaller size 3G handsets, with a total bill-of-materials under $100.00.
As cellular operators around the world upgrade their networks to provide the benefits of high-speed 3G wireless phone service to their customers, handset manufacturers are developing products with increasingly advanced multimedia functionality to take advantage of the increased throughput of these new technologies. Until now, multimedia handsets developed for these next generation networks have been too expensive for mainstream adoption. The new Broadcom(R) CellAirity chipset allows manufacturers to build phones for a total cost of under $100.00 -- a key milestone in 3G handset affordability.
"With the continued roll-out of advanced 3G mobile phone services, leading handset manufacturers are anxious to develop products at price points that will stimulate the widespread adoption of 3G technology," said Yossi Cohen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Mobile Platforms Group. "Broadcom's second generation WEDGE solution provides the unique combination of high performance, advanced features and affordability that handset makers require for the new generation of phone designs."
Having launched its first WEDGE solution in 2005, the company is expecting one of its Tier 1 handset manufacturer partners to launch a handset based on Broadcom WEDGE technology in the second quarter of this year. This handset has recently passed extensive rigorous testing, including GCF and IOT (interoperability testing), as well as live network testing with all major infrastructure suppliers and operators worldwide. This will mark an important milestone for Broadcom, placing it in a leadership position as one of the very few chip providers to complete the complex IOT and Inter-RAT associated with WCDMA and EDGE networks. It also moves a high quality WEDGE handset into production as the industry strives toward more advanced 3G technology.
The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) industry group recently announced a survey of cellular network deployments which indicated growing interest in enhanced voice and mobile multimedia services. According to the survey, "61 network operators are deploying or operating combined WCDMA and EDGE networks, compared to 23 one year ago." The GSA also reports that there are 100 WCDMA networks worldwide with 31 WEDGE networks in service, highlighting the continued growth in the availability of 3G services.
Broadcom's new CellAirity WEDGE chipset provides significant advantages over existing solutions. Almost all 3G handsets shipped to date combine 3G WCDMA transmission with the much slower 2G GPRS standard. When a user roams from a 3G to a 2G cell, the phone's data rate drops significantly. By combining the faster EDGE standard with WCDMA, CellAirity provides a more seamless user data experience. The new solution occupies up to 30% less board space than competing products, a key requirement for space-constrained handsets, and provides a 50% improvement in power consumption compared to earlier generations, extending battery life to near 2G performance for a more compelling user experience.
Advanced 3G Feature Set at Affordable Bill of Materials
Announced today is the CellAirity baseband chipset that consists of the BCM2133 EDGE processor and BCM2141 WCDMA processor. The BCM2133 single-chip multimedia EDGE baseband is Broadcom's third generation of silicon featuring an ARM926EJ processor and fully monolithic mixed-signal elements for RF and audio connectivity. Superior power performance is achieved by unique EDGE hardware accelerators, which minimize power consumption while users engage in web browsing, downloading e-mail or viewing streaming video over EDGE networks. The BCM2133 also integrates a full set of multimedia features, including a 2 Megapixel digital camera, video record and playback capabilities, a stereo MP3 player, support for 64-tone polyphonic ringtones, and a "TV-out" feature allowing for low-cost EDGE or WEDGE devices while still enabling data services that are attractive to network operators.
The BCM2133 supports Broadcom's proprietary MStream(TM) cellular technology, also announced today, which improves speech and signal quality in a variety of network conditions, reducing dropped calls while improving the user experience.
WCDMA capabilities are enabled by the BCM2141 WCDMA co-processor, which is a full-featured WCDMA baseband that, when paired with the BCM2133 EDGE processor, enables seamless roaming between 2G and 3G networks. This allows end-users to remain connected as they travel among GSM, GPRS, EDGE or WCDMA coverage areas. With low-power architecture to provide increased battery life, a complete level-1 firmware package, and a programmable RF interface for system design flexibility, the BCM2141 helps bring the most advanced phones to market in the short timeframes required by handset developers.
Optional CellAirity Components
The new WEDGE baseband chipset is a component of Broadcom's recently announced CellAirity platform, which includes the key software and hardware elements required for advanced mobile products. Optional CellAirity components can be combined with the BCM2133/BCM2141 solution to enable more advanced functionality. The BCM2724 single-chip mobile multimedia processor extends video performance up to 4 Megapixel cameras, with support for high-resolution VGA 30 frames per second video record and playback, TV-out and extensive 3D graphics capability. The CellAirity platform also supports Broadcom's market leading Bluetooth(R) solutions, including the BCM2045 with Enhanced Data Rate for wireless stereo and other applications. Other optional hardware includes the BCM2724 advanced multimedia processor, the BCM1161 VoIP processor, and market-leading Broadcom single-chip Bluetooth and Wi-Fi(R) solutions, the BCM2045 and BCM4318e, respectively.
Availability
The BCM2133 and BCM2141 chipset is currently sampling to Broadcom's early access partners. Broadcom will be demonstrating the solution, along with its entire CellAirity mobile platform at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 13 to 16, 2006. Visit Broadcom's booth in the Fira de Barcelona in Hall 1, stand C78.
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About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Our products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. Broadcom provides the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of- the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).
Broadcom, one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies with annual revenue of more than $2.5 billion, is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at 1-949-450-8700 or at http://www.broadcom.com.
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