Broadcom announced a single-chip connectivity solution that combines Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM receiver technologies onto a single silicon die.

Announced today is the Broadcom BCM4325 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/FM transceiver. This single-chip solution provides the highest level of integration for mobile or handheld wireless systems featuring IEEE 802.11a/b/g (MAC, baseband and radio), support for Bluetooth 2.0 plus enhanced data rate (EDR) that is upgradeable to version 2.1 and an advanced FM receiver.

"Mobile handsets are rapidly evolving into the central point of personal communications, entertainment and information for large numbers of consumers," said Robert A. Rango, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Wireless Connectivity Group. "Our new Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and FM transceiver will help to drive this evolution and enhance devices like digital music players by dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of these key wireless technologies in innovative mobile devices."

Mobile handsets, media players and handheld wireless systems have made recent leaps in sophistication, enabling service providers to offer compelling applications such as web browsing, instant messaging, e-mail, advanced multimedia, VoIP phone calls, photo sharing, as well as innovative connected services like weather and personal navigation. Critical to the success of these advanced handheld devices (which are now appearing in the market) are ultra-low power solutions for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other radio technologies that enable an array of connectivity options. Adding multiple additional chips to mobile devices, however, impedes the trend toward increasing compact, low-power products.