Broadcom Launches World's First Wi-Fi(R) Video Phone Chipset

Posted by tadelste on Jan 5, 2006 1:34 PM EDT
PR Newswire; By Press release
Mail this story
Print this story

Broadcom Leverages Industry Leading Voice over IP, Wireless LAN and Video Multimedia Technologies to Deliver Revolutionary Solution for Video IP Phones

LAS VEGAS, International CES 2006, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in wired and wireless broadband communications semiconductors, today announced the world's first Wi-Fi(R) video phone chipset for wireless handsets and desktop video IP phones. The chipset and its associated software leverage several market-leading Broadcom(R) technologies including VoIP, mobile multimedia and wireless LAN (WLAN). The revolutionary video IP phone chipset further expands Broadcom's leadership position in the IP phone chip market.

Video phones that are based on Broadcom's new Wi-Fi video phone chipset will change voice communications into a completely new form that is practical and fun. Imagine business travelers saying good night to their children "face-to-face" by simply dialing home, or teenagers being able to compare outfits before they meet up for an evening out together, or families being able to celebrate special occasions together despite the distances that separate them.

The technology landscape surrounding video phones has changed dramatically in recent years, largely due to advances in video compression and voice technology that have eliminated jumpy or blurry images, as well as out-of-sync voice and video. Additionally, the proliferation of broadband and Wi-Fi connections in the home has become commonplace, paving the way for the further adoption of Internet telephony applications. Broadcom's new Wi-Fi video phone chipset and associated software enables video telephony to come of age, both in quality and in price.

"The age of video telephony is finally here. Our ability to integrate several of Broadcom's leading technologies will enable our customers to bring to market cost-effective, low-power video phones with world-class video quality," said Paul Shore, Director of Marketing of Broadcom's VoIP phone products. "Video phones on the market today lack the price point and video quality needed for mass market adoption - our new chipset and software will radically improve both of these key market drivers, establishing Broadcom as the market leader in video IP phones." Broadcom's New Wi-Fi Video Phone Chipset

Broadcom's new Wi-Fi video phone chipset, available in production today, includes the BCM1161 mobile VoIP processor; the BCM4318E AirForce One(TM) Single-Chip 802.11b/g WLAN solution; and the BCM2702 VideoCore(R) multimedia processor. The chipset also includes Broadcom's VoIP, video, and Wi-Fi software integrated into a single software package for the design of full-featured Wi-Fi video phone handheld and desktop products.

The Wi-Fi video phone chipset provides key features required for high-quality video and voice communication products. This includes support for high-resolution video communication standards including H.264 and H.263, video rates of up to 30 frames per second, and QCIF to CIF full-duplex video resolutions for sharp, smooth digital video that is interoperable with other devices and applications. It also includes an integrated display controller that is capable of supporting a range of LCD displays, as well as PAL/NTSC TV-Out. The BCM4318E WLAN device supports WMM (a wireless quality of service protocol that gives priority to voice and video packets), WPA(TM)/WPA2 security, Broadcom's SecureEasySetup(TM) software, which provides device configuration with the touch of a button, and Broadcom's BroadRange(TM) technology for improved wireless range and coverage.

Broadcom's Wi-Fi PhonexChange(TM) software is a critical part of the solution. Building upon its proven success in millions of deployed VoIP-enabled devices, the software integrates video with minimized end-to-end communications delays and exceptional video/voice synchronization for a high-quality video experience. A full-duplex speakerphone with high-fidelity voice for natural and clear communications is supported. The software also provides consumers with much more than video communications, supporting access to a range of software multimedia features that include image capture and display, video recording and playback, and music player capabilities. Product Availability

Broadcom's Wi-Fi video phone chipset is currently in production and a reference design and software platform are available today to Early Access Partners. The reference development platform, the BCM91161VP, can help customers to rapidly develop both handheld and desktop Wi-Fi phone products. The platform includes a 30 frame per second video camera and color LCD display in a handheld phone housing. It also includes Broadcom's xChange(TM) VoIP software suite, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call signaling stack, WLAN OneDriver(TM) and a Linux(R) OS-based board support package, including drivers and software development tools.

Broadcom will be demonstrating the new Wi-Fi video phone platform at this week's International CES 2006 in Las Vegas, at the company's demo suite in Meeting Room #35781, South Hall 4. Volume pricing is available upon request. About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a global leader in wired and wireless broadband communications semiconductors. Our products enable the convergence of high-speed data, high definition video, voice and audio at home, in the office and on the go. Broadcom provides manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices with the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).

Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with annual revenue of more than $2 billion. The company is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at 1-949-450-8700 or at http://www.broadcom.com. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Important factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with VoIP products include, but are not limited to, general economic and political conditions and specific conditions in the markets we address, including the volatility in the technology sector and semiconductor industry, trends in the broadband communications markets in various geographic regions, including seasonality in sales of consumer products into which our products are incorporated, and possible disruption in commercial activities related to terrorist activity or armed conflict in the United States and other locations; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Broadcom's technologies and products in the markets for VoIP networking applications; delays in the adoption and acceptance of industry standards in those markets; our ability to scale our operations in response to changes in demand for our existing products and services or demand for new products requested by our customers; intellectual property disputes and customer indemnification claims and other types of litigation risk; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders and our ability, as well as the ability of our customers, to manage inventory; our ability to retain, recruit and hire key executives, technical personnel and other employees in the positions and numbers, with the experience and capabilities, and at the compensation levels needed to implement our business and product plans; our ability to specify, develop or acquire, complete, introduce, market and transition to volume production new products and technologies in a cost-effective and timely manner; the gain or loss of a key customer, design win or order; the availability and pricing of third party semiconductor foundry and assembly capacity and raw materials; our ability to timely and accurately predict market requirements and evolving industry standards and to identify opportunities in new markets; the quality of our products and any remediation costs; competitive pressures and other factors such as the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; problems or delays that we may face in shifting our products to smaller geometry process technologies and in achieving higher levels of design integration; the timing of customer-industry qualification and certification of our products and the risks of non-qualification or non-certification; changes in our product or customer mix; the volume of our product sales and pricing concessions on volume sales; fluctuations in the manufacturing yields of our third party semiconductor foundries and other problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of our products; the risks of producing products with new suppliers and at new fabrication and assembly facilities; the effectiveness of our expense and product cost control and reduction efforts; the risks and uncertainties associated with our international operations, particularly in light of recent events; the effects of natural disasters, public health emergencies, international conflicts and other events beyond our control; the level of orders received that can be shipped in a fiscal quarter; and other factors.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss the foregoing risks as well as other important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason. Broadcom(R), the pulse logo, Connecting everything(R), the Connecting everything logo, VideoCore(R), AirForce One(TM), BroadRange(TM), OneDriver(TM), PhonexChange(TM), SecureEasySetup(TM), and xChange(TM) are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Wi-Fi(R) is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Linux(R), is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Broadcom Trade Press Contact

Gennis Lafayette

Public Relations Manager

408-543-3413

gennisl@broadcom.com Broadcom Investor Relations Contact

T. Peter Andrew

Vice President, Investor Relations

949-926-5663

andrewtp@broadcom.com Broadcom Technical Contact

Randal Hrytzak

Product Line Manager, VoIP

604-233-8600

randalh@broadcom.com

  Nav
» Read more about: Story Type: Press Release

« Return to the newswire homepage

This topic does not have any threads posted yet!

You cannot post until you login.