Date: 24/10/2009

Broadcom's new Bluetooth headset SoC enhance audio quality and user interface

The Bluetooth headset SoC chip family BCM2074x from Broadcom enhance audio quality, improved key user interface, new wind noise reduction algorithms, and multi-language 'voice prompt' technology. The key differentiator of this IC family is they integrate fast-charging power feature to allow headset to charge five times faster and provide extra Talk Time.

"We have leveraged our leadership in the Bluetooth market to integrate superior audio quality and ease of use. This new family of chips extends our technology leadership with the industry's lowest power consumption that is convenient to the end-user and friendly to the environment," said Craig Ochikubo, Vice President & General Manager of Broadcom's Wireless Personal Area Networking line of business. "This level of feature integration is optimized by the use of 65nm technology, providing more value, features and capabilities to consumers than devices using older, less efficient technologies."

"Consumers are sold on the concept of Bluetooth headsets, but usability and sound quality must improve in order for them to become a ubiquitous part of mobile communications," said Emma Naudo, wireless analyst from IMS Research. "By focusing on ways to improve the consumers' headset experience, companies like Broadcom are helping to dispel the myths about Bluetooth headsets and enable the market to reach its full potential."

Broadcom says, Headset pairing, battery life, muting and multipoint status can now be easily conveyed via an integrated voice prompt decoder, to hear multi-language voice prompts when both the headsets in basic and advanced modes.

While the Bluetooth SIG continues to drive improvements in the 'pairing' process, Broadcom has also added innovations in the applications design for an improved pairing experience, in both the basic and advanced cases, including multipoint, where multiple phone handsets can access with a single headset device.

Availability:

Broadcom BCM20740 SoC (single microphone), the Broadcom BCM20741 SoC (single microphone with SmartAudio) and the Broadcom BCM20742 SoC (dual microphone with SmartAudio) are all sampling to early access customers.

Editorial Product Rating: Average Plus