LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 2010 International CES -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced that Ford Motor Company is using its BCM4325 Bluetooth® + Wi-Fi® combination (or 'combo') chip solution, featuring InConcert® technology, to provide wireless connectivity in some of Ford's new vehicles. The Ford SYNC™ system, which is based on the Microsoft Embedded Auto software platform, enables cellular handsets, portable media players and other devices to connect directly to the car's entertainment system for hands-free operation and for sharing media between them. The next-generation of Ford's SYNC communications system is being unveiled at this week's 2010 International CES, and features the Broadcom® BCM4325 solution that adds advanced Wi-Fi functionality for a more enjoyable, convenient, and safer user experience.

Highlights/Key Facts:

• Advanced media and communications technologies are gaining increased adoption in a broad range of consumer products. One example is the Ford SYNC system, which includes capabilities that can greatly enhance the user experience in next generation, innovative autos from Ford. By adding this wireless communications system to its popular vehicles, Ford is driving in-car connectivity to the mass market.
• The SYNC in-car communication system enables safer hands-free operation of many cellular phone handsets and popular digital auto/video players while in the car. Using voice commands, the driver can use integrated Bluetooth to make musical selections, initiate phone conversations and manage other car functions as well. The new SYNC version integrates Broadcom Wi-Fi technology enabling consumer electronics devices to connect wirelessly to the system without the need for a USB cable.
• The wireless capabilities enabled by Broadcom wireless technology in the SYNC system transforms the passenger cabin experience, providing convenience for the driver and enjoyable new features for passengers:
  • High performance Wi-Fi capability built into the vehicle, allowing the system to connect to Internet "hot spots" or the driver's own home wireless access point when parked, enabling use of the car's built-in web browser;
  • The SYNC system also includes Broadcom's "soft access point" technology that allows the Broadcom enabled Wi-Fi component to serve as an access point so that any device, such as a laptop computer inside the vehicle, can gain wireless Internet access.
• The SYNC system is based on the Microsoft Embedded Auto software platform that provides a powerful base operating system for its advanced capabilities. As a leading supplier of Bluetooth solutions for Microsoft-based devices, Broadcom provides mature, proven connectivity software for the SYNC system.
• Broadcom is a leader in 'combo' chip solutions that integrate multiple communications technologies onto single die solutions, making it cost effective and technically feasible to add Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other functions to consumer electronics products. The Broadcom BCM4325 combo chip delivers the following key features:
  • Ultra-low power consumption utilizing advanced design techniques that deliver the lowest active and idle power (up to 40% lower consumption than competitive solutions) combined with a software architecture that offloads the host processor to dramatically extend handheld device battery life and reduce memory requirements.
  • Unique InConcert technology that enables collaborative co-existence between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, since both operate in the 2.4 GHz radio frequency range. InConcert enables more intelligent operations of both technologies allowing the option for a shared antenna system that further reduces board area requirements and provides the capability to co-exist with additional external radio technologies.
  • A flexible software architecture that simplifies the migration from a single radio connectivity technology (WLAN or Bluetooth) to a multi-radio technology solution, minimizing the software design changes while maximizing reuse of the vast array of mature software available for Broadcom's WLAN and Bluetooth-based products.
• The BCM4325 has enabled Broadcom to deliver wireless functionality into a wealth of high volume segments such as PCs, smartphones and consumer electronics. Ford's adoption of the BCM4325 for SYNC communications systems marks a new segment for this innovative 'combo' chip solution.

Supporting Quotes

Edgar Figueroa, Executive Director, Wi-Fi Alliance

"The addition of Wi-Fi into the automobile environment will spark creative new uses for the technology and help drive its adoption in an even broader array of devices. With the ability to offer in-cabin Wi-Fi connectivity for laptops, netbooks, gaming devices, and smartphones, the new SYNC system from Ford is a good example of the future of 'connected transportation'."

Chris Bergey, Senior Director, Wireless LAN Mobility Group, Broadcom

"As a leader in driving wireless connectivity into new categories of products, we have enabled consumer electronics devices to connect, share data, and enhance the user experience by eliminating wires and cords in varied devices. Our collaboration with Ford marks a new area of expansion for wireless connectivity, making our highly competitive wireless LAN and Bluetooth combinational technologies available for Ford's future automotive passenger cabins."

Subscribe to RSS Feed: Broadcom Wireless Connectivity Group

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications.  Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment.  We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices.  These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything^®.

Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2008 revenue of $4.66 billion, and holds over 3,650 U.S. and over 1,450 foreign patents, more than 7,750 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video, data and multimedia.

A FORTUNE 500® company, Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe.  Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at www.broadcom.com.

Cautions regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

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.  Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the demand for wireless solutions that support in-car communications systems, references to our collaboration with Ford, , and the timing of adding Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities to automotive communications systems.  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 the BCM4325 combination chip solution include, but are not limited to:

• the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Broadcom's wireless technologies for automotive connectivity solutions;
• trends in the wireless networking markets in various geographic regions, including seasonality in sales of consumer products into which our products are incorporated;
• 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;
• our ability to timely and accurately predict market requirements and evolving industry standards and to identify opportunities in new markets; and
• Delays in the adoption and acceptance of industry standards in those markets.

Additional factors that may cause Broadcom's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the list that can be found at http://www.broadcom.com/press/additional_risk_factors/Q42009.php.

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, except as required by law.

Broadcom, the pulse logo, Connecting everything, the Connecting everything logo and InConcert® are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU.  Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

SOURCE Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Mobile & Wireless