EDGE Multimedia Processor suits space-restricted phones.
Press Release Summary:
Built on 65 nm CMOS process, BCM21331 integrates EDGE RF transceiver, all analog and digital baseband functions, as well as multimedia and connectivity support on one chip. It also provides on-chip support for cameras up to 3.2 megapixels as well as video streaming and capture up to 30 fps at QVGA resolution using H.264 hardware accelerator. Additional support is provided for transfer of multimedia files to and from handset via 480 Mbps USB 2.0 port with integrated PHY functionality.
Original Press Release:
Broadcom Expands its Mobile Technology Leadership with Industry's First 65nm Single-Chip EDGE System Solution
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 12 - 3GSM World Congress - Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the immediate availability of a new EDGE processor that leapfrogs competition by combining the key components needed for advanced multimedia phones on a single monolithic chip. Estimated by market research firm iSuppli to grow to 470 million units in 2010, the EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) technology segment is the single largest in the mobile phone market, and the largest communications semiconductor total available market (TAM) opportunity. Broadcom's new processor enables a whole new level of affordability, performance and functionality in the EDGE segment, and positions the company to aggressively grow its market presence.
Designed in 65 nanometer CMOS process technology, the new Broadcom(R) EDGE processor integrates an EDGE RF transceiver, all of the analog and digital baseband functions, and high performance multimedia and connectivity support. The new single-chip solution accommodates small board space and slim designs that require the highest integration, lowest power consumption and lowest bill of materials (BOM) available.
Consumers increasingly show a strong preference for feature-rich phones that provide advanced multimedia and messaging functionality beyond traditional voice communications. With EDGE technology deployments having achieved near ubiquity, appearing in over 250 networks worldwide, the wireless infrastructure now exists to support these advanced features and services. Previously, delivering affordable handsets that could take advantage of multimedia and high-speed connectivity has been a challenge, with multi-chip solutions adding to cost, power consumption and design complexity.
To address this opportunity, Broadcom today announced the BCM21331 single-chip EDGE multimedia processor. The BCM21331 processor provides the industry's highest level of radio frequency, mixed-signal, digital and analog technology integration, coupled with the lowest power consumption and smallest form factor available, all made possible through use of the low cost 65nm process. With a rich feature set and integrated RF circuitry that eliminates the need for an additional radio component, the BCM21331 EDGE processor is optimized for the fastest growing multimedia handset segment. The chip enables handset manufacturers to introduce a tiered line of EDGE mobile phones based on one solution, from very low cost, high volume handsets all the way through feature-rich multimedia phones.
"Consumers today demand fashionable phones with MP3 players, cameras and advanced video, but are unwilling to pay a significant premium for these capabilities," said Yossi Cohen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Mobile Platforms Group. "Broadcom is first-to-market with a single-chip 65nm EDGE solution that introduces a new level of EDGE handset affordability, and also delivers rich multimedia, blazing fast connectivity and long battery-life. Through amazing engineering execution, we were able to leapfrog our competition, and can now enable our partners to meet the most demanding consumer challenges of tomorrow."
"This new integrated solution sampling this month demonstrates the product evolution that can be achieved through the kind of extreme integration that has driven Broadcom's success in several wireless markets," said Allen Nogee, Principal Analyst, Wireless Technology for In-Stat. "The size, cost, performance and power consumption of Broadcom's 65nm EDGE implementation will give handset makers a compelling solution for delivering cost-effective multimedia features across their entire product line."
Technical Information
The BCM21331 is the fourth generation of Broadcom's EDGE platform (which has been in production for over three years and is qualified with cellular operators worldwide, making it one of the most mature and stable in the industry). The integrated RF transceiver design benefits from Broadcom's extensive experience in pure digital CMOS radio design, delivering the highest RF performance and lowest power consumption available, and incorporates the recently announced Broadcom BCM2085 EDGE radio solution. With a deep intellectual property portfolio and mature, field-proven RF technologies (having shipped hundreds of millions of devices that include radio functionality), Broadcom is well suited to apply its expertise to the cellular RF market.
The BCM21331 processor is designed to enable cost-effective, rich multimedia functionality without additional components, providing on-chip support for the following popular features:
-- High quality cameras up to 3.2 megapixels, video streaming and capture up to 30fps at QVGA resolution using an advanced H.264 hardware accelerator that provides up to 3x higher performance than MPEG4 or H.263 solutions.
-- Fully integrated audio support for separately driving an ear piece, speakerphone and stereo headset for music and video playback, eliminating the need for an external audio processor chip.
-- Rapid transfer of multimedia files to and from the handset via an integrated USB 2.0 high-speed (480 Mbps) port with integrated PHY functionality and on-the-go support.
-- Broadcom's proprietary M-Stream technology, and advanced single antenna interference cancellation (SAIC) signal processing, designed to improve cellular handset reception and voice quality, ultimately resulting in fewer dropped calls.
Broadcom also offers an array of optional devices that complement the BCM21331 to provide a complete handset solution: the BCM59001 power management unit; a choice among Broadcom's market-leading Bluetooth(R) solutions, including the BCM2045, BCM2048 Bluetooth + FM, or BCM4325 Bluetooth + Wi-Fi(R) + FM single-chip devices and Bluetooth software. Broadcom's CellAirity(TM) software suite, which includes pre-ported applications supporting an EDGE- class multimedia handset, enables OEMs to rapidly bring new mobile phones to market. CellAirity 2.0 software includes advanced multimedia and messaging applications, web browsing, Java games and rich connectivity options.
Broadcom is a major technology innovator in the global communications industry, with over 1,950 issued U.S. and 750 issued foreign patents, over 5,900 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video and data.
Availability
The BCM21331 is currently being demonstrated at 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, and samples are available to early access customers. Broadcom's CellAirity software, Bluetooth software, Bluetooth devices, and PMU devices are all shipping in production.
Broadcom 3GSM Press Conference
Broadcom will host an exclusive press conference for media and analysts in conjunction with the 3GSM World Congress 2007 in Barcelona, Spain on Monday, February 12th, from 10:30 to 11:30 am CET. The press conference will include comments and insight from Broadcom's President and CEO, Scott McGregor, along with other Broadcom executives, as they introduce new technologies and products that showcase Broadcom's mobile technology leadership. To register for the press conference (media and analysts only) please contact 3GSM@broadcom.com.
The live press conference will be made available to the public via audio webcast. To listen to the webcast, visit the Broadcom website at broadcom.com/investors. The webcast will be recorded and available until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, February 28, 2007.
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 unaudited annual 2006 revenue of $3.67 billion, is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at 1-949-926-5000 or at broadcom.com.
Broadcom(R), the pulse logo, Connecting everything(R), the Connecting everything logo and CellAirity(TM) are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Bluetooth(R) is a trademark of the Bluetooth SIG. Wi-Fi(R) is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Broadcom Technical Contact
Brian Hyde
Senior Product Line Manager
408-922-5405
bhyde@broadcom.com
