Multifunctional Processor reduces HSDPA phone components.
Press Release Summary:
Built on 65 nm CMOS process, BCM2153 integrates 7.2 Mbps, Category 8 HSDPA baseband modem with application, audio, and multimedia processors on one chip. Mixed-signal device also features M-Stream signal enhancement technology, multiple connectivity options, and 480 Mbps USB 2.0 port with integrated PHY. Suited for mobile handsets, this HEDGE (HSDPA + EDGE) multimedia baseband processor provides complete support for all legacy GSM cellular technologies.
Original Press Release:
Broadcom Eliminates Cost Premium for HSDPA Phones
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 12 -- 3GSM World Congress -- Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the industry's first solution for mobile handsets that integrates a High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) baseband modem with world-class application, audio and multimedia processors on a single monolithic chip. The new mixed-signal device is the first developed completely in a 65 nanometer CMOS process and integrates a Category 8 HSDPA modem that delivers 7.2 Mbps (megabits per second) third generation (3G) connectivity for advanced applications. With this level of integration, the new HSDPA processor requires less board space, cost and power than competing solutions, thus eliminating the cost premium associated with HSDPA handsets today.
As the 3G cellular landscape continues to evolve towards higher speed mobile connections, the market is moving to HSDPA as an improved connectivity option since it provides the fastest available throughput for higher speed cellular connectivity and improved network capacity to enable more users. HSDPA handsets typically require additional processing capabilities to support open operating systems such as Windows Mobile(TM), Symbian(R), and Linux(R), as well as to address the larger amounts of multimedia data made available through the network connection. To support advanced applications enabled by HSDPA, discrete application processors, audio devices and multimedia chips are also being added to many HSDPA handset designs. As a result, today's handset makers experience significant power, space and cost penalties in HSDPA designs that keep these phones at a cost premium and out of the reach of many consumers.
Announced today is the Broadcom(R) BCM2153 HEDGE (HSDPA + EDGE) multimedia baseband processor that removes the HSDPA cost premium to enable a new level of affordability for the handset market, and in particular, the smartphone segment. The BCM2153 combines a high performance ARM11(TM) application processor, a 7.2 Mbps HEDGE cellular modem, powerful integrated audio and USB 2.0 functionality, Broadcom's unique M-Stream signal enhancement technology, and hardware accelerated multimedia - all on a single piece of silicon. The multimedia processor integrated within the BCM2153 features world-class performance, implementing in hardware the more efficient H.264 graphics standard, which is the most advanced video functionality currently available for mobile devices.
"Through extreme integration of world-class hardware acceleration and extensive software optimization, Broadcom has developed the first true 'smartphone-on-a-chip' that can support cutting edge multimedia and connectivity while maintaining the additional processing power required to run a complete open operating system," said Yossi Cohen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Mobile Platforms Group. "Our partners will appreciate the flexibility our new processor provides, breaking up existing limitations and opening new possibilities for a full range of HSDPA handset designs."
Technical Information
The new BCM2153 HEDGE baseband processor is a full-featured, high performance cellular modem product based on Broadcom's previously-announced BCM2152 processor. It is HSDPA- and WCDMA-compliant and provides complete support for all legacy GSM cellular technologies, enabling mobile devices based on Broadcom cellular solutions to roam among worldwide networks without interruption of voice or data services, while always being connected at the highest data rate available.
The BCM2153 processor features extensive hardware acceleration blocks for both modem and multimedia capabilities, in addition to a 312 MHz ARM11(TM) CPU that meets the high performance applications processing requirements of next-generation mobile devices. The BCM2153's built-in multimedia capabilities include support for up-to-3.2 megapixel cameras, TV-out functionality for displaying phone content onto standard televisions, the highest quality 30 frames per second video capture and playback at CIF or QVGA resolutions for MPEG4, H.263, or H.264, and support for the popular T-DMB and DVB-H mobile TV standards.
Audio features include integrated 64-voice polyphonic ringtones, stereo audio DACs and two pair of stereo audio amplifiers to support multiple speaker options, including stereo output, speaker phones, and MP3 headset playback. The on-chip 480 Mbps USB 2.0 OTG high speed port with integrated PHY enables rapid downloads of content to and from the phone without external devices. A rich set of connectivity options support major standards, such as Bluetooth(R), Wi-Fi(R) and A-GPS satellite positioning.
To round out its capabilities, the new BCM2153 baseband processor also integrates Broadcom's popular M-Stream technology, which significantly improves voice and data quality in areas with moderate or weak cellular signal condition. The end result is fewer dropped calls, extended range coverage and overall an improved user experience. The BCM2153 is part of Broadcom's CellAirity(TM) cellular offering, a modular software and hardware platform that provides best-in-class solutions for all of the critical components required for today's advanced mobile devices, including feature-rich functionality, 2G and 3G cellular connectivity, and multimedia acceleration.
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 Broadcom BCM2153 HSDPA baseband processor is now sampling to early access customers. Pricing is available upon request.
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 www.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 www.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. Windows Mobile(TM) is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Symbian(R) is a trademark of Symbian Limited. Linux(R) is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Wi- Fi(R) is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. ARM11(TM) is a trademark of ARM Limited. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Broadcom Technical Contact
Brian Hyde
Sr. Marketing Manager,
Mobile Platforms
408-922-5405
bhyde@broadcom.com
