Broadcom strikes first with new '3G phone on a chip' technology

By Stevie Smith Oct 16, 2007, 12:16 GMT

Broadcom creates the world\'s first single-chip high-speed packet access (HSPA) processor solution. Credit: Broadcom.

Integrated circuit supplier Broadcom Corporation has beaten competitors such as Texas Instruments and Qualcomm to the punch with the unveiling of the world’s very first single-chip high-speed packet access (HSPA) processor solution, which the California-based company is labelling as the "3G phone on a chip."

TechNewsWorld reports that Broadcom’s processor integrates multiple 3G cellular and mobile technologies onto a single, low power 65-nanometer complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) die.

Broadcom has offered that its new processor will allow manufacturers to produce 3G high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) mobile phone handsets while delivering new landmark features, even more elegant physical form factors, prolonged battery performance, and all at a much more competitive prices when gauged against current alternatives.

"With what we believe is more than a full year’s lead over similar competing products, this new 3G solution should place Broadcom squarely at the head of the hyper-competitive 3G chip race," trumpeted Yossi Cohen, the senior VP and GM of Broadcom’s Mobile Platforms Group. "Our investments in multi-modal CMOS RF (radio frequency) and high-definition multimedia technologies will further widen our mobile technology leadership in the coming years."

From a technical standpoint, Broadcom’s new processing solution (a.k.a. BCM21551) marries an HSUPA 3G baseband and multi-band radio frequency transceiver alongside Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR (enhanced data rate) and an FM radio receiver and transmitter – for use for playback through a car stereo music system. Future consumers using phone handsets equipped with Broadcom’s new processing solution will also be granted download speeds up to 7.2Mbps while uploading media content up to 5.8Mbps.

Broadcom is also keen to point out that its new processor also offers up support for digital cameras with a 5.0 megapixel ceiling, 30fps video with TV Out, and support for HSUPA, HSDPA, WCDMA, and EDGE protocols. It will also function in conjunction with Wi-Fi and GPS power management units and the VideoCore III mobile multimedia processor.

Broadcom’s new processor is available now at quantity prices to the company’s early access customers.