Broadcom and Boingo Wireless announce a strategic relationship that will enable instant wireless network connections for Wi-Fi phone users across the globe. As part of this strategic relationship, Broadcom is incorporating Boingo's Wi-Fi client software for handsets into its widely deployed Wi-Fi phone chipset platform currently shipping to handset OEMs and ODMs worldwide. Boingo Wi-Fi client software automatically scans for hotspots and instantly connects users to private and commercial networks, including the tens of thousands of hotspots that are part of the Boingo Roaming Network.

The integration of Boingo Wi-Fi software into the Broadcom Wi-Fi phone platform enables true global access to public Wi-Fi networks. Commercial Wi-Fi roaming allows business travelers, mobile workers and people on-the-go the ability to capitalize on high-speed connections in tens of thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots, in addition to their private networks at the office and at home. As VoIP solutions continue to gain momentum by offsetting traditional communications costs, while enabling new services to traditional voice calling applications, operators and consumers are looking for solutions that provide maximum versatility with greatest ease-of-use. The ability to provide instant network connections worldwide is a significant combined offering from Broadcom and Boingo.

BCM1161/BCM4318e Wi-Fi Platform

The BCM1161 is a second generation mobile VoIP processor designed specifically for Wi-Fi phones that feature advanced telephony and multimedia capabilities. This VoIP processor enables a compelling new class of multimedia and communications applications such as wideband voice, instant messaging and presence capabilities, video conferencing and data connectivity, all of which are not typically available from cordless phones used in homes today. The processor's advanced multimedia features include polyphonic ring-tone support and a 2 Megapixel digital camera.

A variety of telephony features are also supported by the BCM1161 including 3-way conferencing and speaker phone support, and high-fidelity voice capabilities through the use of Broadcom's BroadVoice technology. The BCM1161 integrates a CPU based on ARM9 technology, analog voice codec with a direct microphone and high-output speaker interface, 256K color LCD display interface and a USB 2.0 interface.

The BCM4318E is Broadcom's smallest and most cost effective 54g client solution that integrates a high performance 2.4 GHz radio, an IEEE 802.11b/g baseband processor, a media access controller and other key components integrated onto a single chip. Both the BCM4318E and BCM1161 devices are shipping in production today, and together with Broadcom PhonexChange VoIP and OneDriver software, support the latest quality of service, security and power save standards to enable a complete Wi-Fi phone solution.