Irvine, Calif.—Broadcom Corp. has started to sample its latest Bluetooth product, which is claims is the industry's first to combine Bluetooth 2.1 features, enhanced data rate (EDR) technology and a Class 1 RF transceiver in a single, monolithic chip.
The BCM2046 supports the most advanced Bluetooth features to provide short-range wireless connectivity for a variety of mobile phones, notebook and desktop computers, PDAs and wireless peripherals. It is also said to be the industry's most highly-integrated Bluetooth product, which can reduce the external bill of materials by more than 80 percent. The BCM2046 integrates on-chip RF matching circuits, balun and power amplifier.
The Broadcom BCM2046 Bluetooth device supports the new Bluetooth 2.1 specifications to extend battery life, simplify pairing and enhance security. As the latest major revision to the Bluetooth specification, version 2.1 is expected to radically simplify the set-up and use of handsets and other products that incorporate Bluetooth, while improving the overall user experience. In particular, the BCM2046 implements the "Simple Pairing" and "Enhanced Inquiry Response" elements of the 2.1 specification, which were designed to address difficulties some consumers encountered when configuring Bluetooth devices.
The combination of BCM2046 silicon with Broadcom's BTW, BTE-Mobile and BTW-CE software provides OEMs with a highly flexible total technology platform that can enable a full range of Bluetooth applications.
The BCM2046 also supports enhanced data rate technology, which is an
industry-standard feature that triples wireless throughput. Bluetooth
products with EDR can be used for more advanced multimedia applications,
such as streaming music to multiple headsets or wireless speakers, but
remain compatible with legacy devices at lower data rates.
In addition to improving throughput, the BCM2046 addresses previous
limitations on the quality and range of Bluetooth links. Broadcom's Class 1 device offers unparalleled receiver sensitivity and transmitter output power
to maintain Bluetooth connections at greater distances -- up to ten times
farther than Class 2 solutions. Class 1 devices also use higher output power
to combat interference and reduce dropped connections that result from
distance and physical obstructions.
Pricing is available upon request.
Availability: Sampling to early access customers.
Datasheet: click here.
Broadcom Corp., 1-949-926-5000, www.broadcom.com
