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Broadcom Corp. has announced that its Bluetooth combo chip technology and associated BTE software have been qualified as compliant with the ratified Bluetooth v3.0 + HS (high speed) specification. This standard significantly expands the capabilities of Bluetooth wireless technology in multimedia smart phones, netbooks, and other devices by enabling the transmission of large files via Bluetooth profiles at speeds up to 24 Mbits/s, which is 10 times faster than the Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR (enhanced data rate) standard. 

With this development, Broadcom can provide a single-chip solution that includes both a qualified Bluetooth v3.0 BR/EDR (basic rate) controller and Wi-Fi certified media access controller/physical-layer (MAC/PHY) device. Combined with Broadcom’s v3.0 + HS qualified host software solution, the company says, these products enable OEMs to add the convenience of high-speed Bluetooth data transfer while reducing board space, power consumption, and overall system cost in next-generation Bluetooth-enabled devices.

The products qualified as compliant with the v3.0 + HS specification include the BCM4325 802.11b/g combo chip, which combines Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and FM radio functionality, and the BTE software, the core Bluetooth software stack on which all Broadcom Bluetooth software is based, including BTW, BTW Mobile, and embedded software for cellular handsets and other devices. The BCM4325 is Wi-Fi certified for a number of customer products as well.

In addition to the tenfold increase in transmission speed over previous specifications, v3.0 + HS supports expanded capabilities for remote control applications featuring Unicast Connectionless Data (UCD) functionality enabling low-power operation and reduced latency. Its new Read Encryption Key Size feature enhances security as well. Broadcom’s Bluetooth BR/EDR controller solutions further support the spec’s Enhanced Power Control feature, which improves control over transmit power levels on Bluetooth BR/ERD links, improving communications and optimizing power consumption.