'3G phone-on-a-chip' from Broadcom targets low cost smartphones

Broadcom has announced a new 65-nanometer CMOS process single-chip HSPA (high-speed packet access) baseband processor and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver solution that integrates all of the key 3G (third generation) cellular and mobile technologies for powering the 3G smartphone and smart feature phone product segments.

The baseband processor has built-in graphics capabilities, for HSUPA (high speed upstream packet access) applications. The RF transceiver solution complements the HSUPA processor to provide support for all global frequency combinations covering the 3G-enabled devices.

The new '3G phone-on-a-chip' and RF solution enables low cost, low power, 3G HSUPA phones. Utilizing an integrated ARM11 processor that is capable of running open operating systems (such as Windows Mobile and Android).

Broadcom's BCM21553 HSUPA baseband processor can run new applications and download media files faster enabling smartphones to be sold at lower price.

The key features of the BCM21553 HSUPA baseband processor are,

Supports 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) releases 6 and 7, which provide up to 5.8 Mbps (Megabits per second) of upstream connectivity, 7.2 Mbps of downstream connectivity and support CS (circuit switches) over HSPA services.
Includes Broadcom PRISM (programmable interference suppression module) technology to mitigate interference from radio signals emanating from neighboring cells.

Integrates a high performance 3D graphics core with full support for the OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics standard to provide 2D and 3D graphics for applications and advanced user interfaces.

Providing video support up to HVGA quality, an 8 megapixel camera, and the ability to encode and decode H.264 video at 30 fps (frames per second).

Jim Tran, Vice President & General Manager, Broadcom's Mobile Communications line of business said, "We are established as a reliable supplier of baseband and other mobile technologies for popular new smartphone and advanced smart feature phone devices. With the introduction of our new BCM21553 HSUPA baseband processor and BCM2091 RF transceiver solutions, we are now enabling a new generation of increasingly affordable handsets that will offer the fastest cellular connectivity available, as well as the most popular smartphone features including wireless connectivity and diverse mobile applications."

The BCM21553 broadband processor and the BCM2091 RF transceiver are now available.