Expanding the Broadcom® Bluetooth audio platform, the new single-chip ROM-based device features advanced audio enhancement technology in a small, low cost package that will help to drive cost effective, stylish headset designs based on Bluetooth technology.

Audio devices, such as headsets, represent the second largest segment of the Bluetooth market (following mobile handsets). As more countries, states and cities enact hands-free legislation, the number of basic headsets (also known as mono headsets) will continue to increase -- with an estimated 80 million expected to be sold in 2007*. Many of these headsets will be used for hands-free connectivity in cars, where audio quality and noise cancellation are essential. In the past, noise and echo suppression algorithms have been typically limited to high-end headsets that require additional components and are more expensive to manufacture.

Announced today is the Broadcom BCM2044S headset solution that leverages a ROM-based architecture to implement its unique SmartAudio™ noise and echo reduction algorithms, enhancing audio quality without adding additional costly components. This technology potentially reduces the bill of materials (BOM) cost by 40 percent, enabling OEMs to offer high-end audio capabilities at the same cost as basic headsets. In addition, the BCM2044S is footprint-compatible with the predecessor Broadcom BCM2044, enabling OEM customers to cost effectively offer multi-tiered product lines based on a common hardware platform.

"To expand upon the leadership we've built in other Bluetooth segments, Broadcom is delivering revolutionary solutions that push the boundaries of performance and cost for wireless headsets and other audio devices," said Scott Bibaud, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Wireless Personal Area Networking line of business. "Rounding out our new family of audio solutions, the BCM2044S and related reference design enable OEMs to differentiate their headset offerings with superior features, while reducing BOM and manufacturing costs to protect their bottom lines."

Broadcom SmartAudio technology is based on the company's extensive experience in processing voice, video and data traffic in enterprise networking and telecommunications infrastructure applications. It intelligently analyzes digital audio streams within the Bluetooth headset, differentiating between voice and non-voice characteristics while eliminating background noise to deliver a clearer, more satisfying voice conversation. SmartAudio technology also automatically increases the volume on the headset when the user walks into a noisy environment, intelligently adjusting the output to maximize comfort for the headset user without the need to touch any buttons.

New Reference Design Further Reduces Cost

Broadcom also announced today its BCM92044 reference design that provides headset OEMs with a greatly reduced 2-layer printed circuit board (PCB), versus alternative solutions that require PCBs with four or six layers. Answering the requirements of headset manufacturers for smaller, simpler products, Broadcom's BCM92044 reference design supports extremely small audio devices and requires about 30 percent fewer external components when compared to competing solutions. The reference design includes Broadcom's industry-leading Bluetooth software, along with essential development tools to accelerate time-to-market for customer products. Broadcom also conducts extensive interoperability testing with other Bluetooth devices, and to date, the BCM92044 reference design has been validated with over 200 Bluetooth devices and that list continues to grow.

Broadcom's Bluetooth Product Family

Having shipped hundreds of millions of Bluetooth products, Broadcom offers the most complete family of Bluetooth silicon and software solutions for mobile phones, PCs, wireless headphones and headsets, peripherals, gaming and other applications. Broadcom's Bluetooth solutions are widely recognized in the industry as the most broadly deployed and feature-rich solutions. The world's largest manufacturers of consumer electronics, mobile phones and personal computer products rely on Broadcom Bluetooth technology to provide their customers with a unique, intuitive and rich user experience increasingly free of wires and cables. -Broadcom