Broadcom to Acquire Innovent Systems

Broadcom Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Innovent Systems, a pioneer in the development and commercial integration of RFICs for short-range wireless data communications, including the world's first fully integrated RF transceiver in pure digital CMOS. Innovent's recently announced Blutonium family of Bluetooth transceivers and systems extends Broadcom into the wireless space, specifically the short-range market. Innovent's patent-pending implementation of RF technology in a standard digital CMOS integrated circuit process provides significant cost and manufacturing advantages for short-range wireless products.

The company's Blutonium product line combines RF, baseband, systems and software expertise to enable products targeting Bluetooth applications in Personal Area Networks (PANs) and wireless Local Area Networks (LANs), including home networks. The chips enable high-performance short-range wireless communications between devices and equipment ranging from personal digital assistants and cell phones to personal computers, smart telephones and other peripherals in the home and workplace. The first member of the Blutonium family, a CMOS Bluetooth RF transceiver, is available now for sampling to qualified customers.

Personal Area Networks are emerging with the increased use of wireless electronic devices. PANs allow users to transfer information among multiple devices including cell phones, personal digital assistants and laptops, facilitating data sharing, data coordination, and mobile communications using the emerging Bluetooth protocol.

Edited by Gregg Miller