Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Broadcom Corp | Subject: BCM21331
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 13 February 2007
Transceiver and baseband unite in
single-chip Edge
Edge processor integrates Edge RF transceiver, all analogue and digital baseband functions and high performance multimedia and connectivity support.
Broadcom has 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 chip Estimated by market research firm iSuppli to grow to 470 million units in 2010, the Edge (Enhanced Datarates for Global Evolution) technology segment is the single largest in the mobile phone market, and the largest communications semiconductor total available market (TAM) opportunity
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 9 Aug 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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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 65nm CMOS process technology, the new Broadcom Edge processor integrates an Edge RF transceiver, all of the analogue 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.
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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 analogue 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 optimised 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".
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.
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 solutions, including the BCM2045, BCM2048 Bluetooth + FM, or BCM4325 Bluetooth + Wi-Fi + FM single-chip devices and Bluetooth software.
Broadcom's CellAirity 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.
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.
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