Broadcom and Boingo Wireless Team up to Bring Instant Network Connections to Wi-Fi® Phone Users at Thousands of Hotspots
Boingo® Wi-Fi Client Software to Ship within Broadcom's Wi-Fi Phone Platform, Enabling Seamless Internet Connections to Private and Commercial Networks Worldwide, including the Boingo Roaming Network
LAS VEGAS, Jan 08, 2008 -- 2008 International CES -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, and Boingo Wireless, Inc., which provides access to the world's largest network of Wi-Fi hotspots, today announced a strategic relationship that will enable instant wireless network connections for Wi-Fi phone users across the globe.
As part of this strategic relationship, Broadcom is incorporating Boingo's Wi-Fi client software (Boingo® Embedded Wi-Fi Toolkit) for handsets into its widely deployed Wi-Fi phone chipset platform (the BCM1161 and BCM4318E) currently shipping to handset OEMs and ODMs worldwide. Boingo Wi-Fi client software automatically scans for hotspots and instantly connects users to private and commercial networks, including the tens of thousands of hotspots that are part of the Boingo Roaming Network.
Broadcom will conduct live VoIP demonstrations at this week's 2008 International CES (by appointment only), using a Boingo hotspot and handsets built upon the Broadcom® Wi-Fi phone chipset platform (the BCM1161 and BCM4318E). For a media demonstration, please contact the Broadcom/CES Boingo Demo coordinator at (604) 233-8500, to set up an appointment.
The integration of Boingo Wi-Fi software into the Broadcom Wi-Fi phone platform enables true global access to public Wi-Fi networks. Commercial Wi-Fi roaming allows business travelers, mobile workers and people on-the-go the ability to capitalize on high-speed connections in tens of thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots, in addition to their private networks at the office and at home. As voice over IP (VoIP) solutions continue to gain momentum by offsetting traditional communications costs, while enabling new services to traditional voice calling applications, operators and consumers are looking for solutions that provide maximum versatility with greatest ease-of-use. The ability to provide instant network connections worldwide is a significant combined offering from Broadcom and Boingo.
"As the leading provider of Wi-Fi and VoIP technology, Broadcom is an ideal partner for Boingo," said Jonathan Mendelson, Director of Business Development for Devices at Boingo Wireless. "By combining Broadcom's technology platform with our global roaming capabilities, we can deliver a seamless, highly integrated solution for OEMs and ODMs that will improve the Wi-Fi calling experience for millions of users worldwide."
"Broadcom's alliance with Boingo represents an important step forward as we expand our capabilities and offerings in the consumer VoIP market," said Rob Franzo, Director of Marketing for the Broadcom VoIP line of business. "Boingo's position as a leading global Wi-Fi service provider will enable Wi-Fi phones to easily locate a network and connect instantly at thousands of hotspots."
BCM1161/BCM4318e Wi-Fi Platform
The BCM1161 is a second generation mobile VoIP processor designed specifically for Wi-Fi phones that feature advanced telephony and multimedia capabilities. This VoIP processor enables a compelling new class of multimedia and communications applications such as wideband voice, instant messaging and presence capabilities, video conferencing and data connectivity, all of which are not typically available from cordless phones used in homes today. The processor's advanced multimedia features include polyphonic ring-tone support and a 2 Megapixel digital camera.
A variety of telephony features are also supported by the BCM1161 including 3-way conferencing and speaker phone support, and high-fidelity voice capabilities through the use of Broadcom's BroadVoice® technology. The BCM1161 integrates a CPU based on ARM9(TM) technology, analog voice codec with a direct microphone and high-output speaker interface, 256K color LCD display interface and a USB 2.0 interface.
The BCM4318E is Broadcom's smallest and most cost effective 54g® client solution that integrates a high performance 2.4 GHz radio, an IEEE 802.11b/g baseband processor, a media access controller (MAC) and other key components integrated onto a single chip. Both the BCM4318E and BCM1161 devices are shipping in production today, and together with Broadcom PhonexChange(TM) VoIP and OneDriver(TM) software, support the latest quality of service (QoS), security and power save standards to enable a complete Wi-Fi phone solution.
About Broadcom Wireless Solutions
As more consumers rely on wireless devices to stay connected, Broadcom is delivering the technologies that make those connections fast and reliable. With the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® and combination solutions, Broadcom enables a true wireless ecosystem that provides a superior experience across local and personal area networks. This wireless ecosystem leverages Broadcom's 802.11n technology as the backbone of the digital home and provides seamless connectivity to many types of devices based on its popular 802.11b/g and Bluetooth solutions.
About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide 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®.
Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2006 revenue of $3.67 billion, and holds over 2,300 U.S. and 1,000 foreign patents, more than 7,100 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video and data.
Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at www.broadcom.com.
Broadcom Trade Press Contact
Jessica Ingraham
Public Relations Associate
949-926-8008
jessicai@broadcom.com
SOURCE Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Mobile & Wireless
http://www.broadcom.com
