Adding Dual-Band 802.11n to the Existing Wi-Fi(R)-Enabled Roku Product Family Enables Flexible Access to Online Video Content

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced that its Intensi-fi® XLR single-chip 802.11n USB solution is shipping in the new Roku HD-XR player. The Broadcom® BCM4323 system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution, which features its Accelerange(TM) technology, provides the wireless performance and range required to stream high definition (HD) video content between devices while significantly improving the Roku HD-XR connection to the home network.

Highlights/Key Facts:

• As online video content continues to grow, more consumers want to access over-the-top (OTT) broadband video delivered through internet protocol (IP) to their TVs. OTT broadband video is generally considered to be content that is delivered in addition to a normal broadcast television package. Examples of this type of content are internet sites such as MLB.TV, Amazon Video on Demand, Netflix, and several new web channels now available from the Roku Channel Store. Broadcom and Roku are addressing this growing consumer demand by connecting the TV to a broadband IP pipe using Wi-Fi, enabling consumers to view this content on a large screen.
• The new Roku HD-XR digital video player has the same HD video and audio outputs as the groundbreaking Roku HD player, but also integrates 802.11n technology from Broadcom. The enhanced wireless capability enables the new Roku HD-XR to receive video flawlessly even in the farthest reaches of a home.
• Broadcom's dual-band 802.11n solution serves the growing number of consumers who are using the 5 GHz portion of their wireless network for video streaming. With greater network capacity and less interference than the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band is ideal for multimedia applications that require higher bandwidth, more robust signals and lower latency. To view high quality wireless HD video, 2x2 802.11n 5 GHz is the baseline for what consumers need.
• Broadcom is driving down the cost of adding wireless HD video streaming to price sensitive consumer devices like the Roku HD-XR digital video player via low-cost, single-chip 802.11n solutions.
• The Broadcom BCM4323 is the world's first single-chip 802.11n solution for universal serial bus (USB) adapters. As part of Broadcom's Intensi-fi wireless LAN (WLAN) portfolio, the BCM4323 enables very small and cost effective USB adapters used for PCs, TVs, set-top boxes (STBs), digital video recorders (DVRs), and other devices, connecting them to the Wi-Fi network. The BCM4323 can also be used to add high performance wireless connectivity to devices without built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. Additional features of the BCM4323 include:
  • An integrated 802.11n baseband, media access controller (MAC) and two radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) to support both single and dual-band operation.
  • Accelerange technology -- a unique set of hardware and software enhancements that ensures more robust wireless coverage in the far corners of a home.
  • 65 nanometer (nm) CMOS process technology that significantly reduces operating power.
  • Compliance with the newly ratified IEEE 802.11n specification.
  • Extremely low bill-of materials (BOM) cost that enables device manufacturers to build dual-band 802.11n USB adapters with form factors and price points that are comparable to most of today's single-band 802.11n adapters.
  • An integrated ARM® processor and on-chip RAM that can offload wireless functions from the host processor in consumer devices.

Supporting Quotes:

Customer Quote: Anthony Wood, Founder and CEO, Roku

"As a leading supplier of innovative and easy-to-use digital media products, we are always striving to improve the user experience. For example, the Roku player detects Internet bandwidth and makes on-the-fly adjustments to provide the highest quality picture and audio possible. We are pleased to add the new Roku HD-XR model, with extended range, to our family of connected internet streaming players. By using Broadcom's BCM4323 802.11n solution, the HD-XR can be placed farther from the customer's access point than previous models, and it provides customers with more flexibility when installing their Roku player and connecting it wirelessly to their broadband connection."

Broadcom Quote:

Michael Hurlston, Vice President & General Manager for Broadcom's Home and Wireless Networking line of business

"The Roku XD-HR is leading the connected home revolution by bringing a wealth of new internet content to the TV. Broadcom is happy to be an integral part of this device, providing the Wi-Fi technology that enables flawless wireless transfer of HD video from the broadband IP gateway to a large screen."

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Broadcom Wireless Connectivity Group

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Other Supporting Resources:

BCM4323 Product Page

http://bit.ly/4H1Jec

Product Graphic

http://bit.ly/7ebWPz

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything®.

Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2008 revenue of $4.66 billion, and holds over 3,650 U.S. and over 1,450 foreign patents, more than 7,750 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video, data and multimedia.

A FORTUNE 500® company, Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at www.broadcom.com.

Cautions regarding Forward Looking Statements:

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words.. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Important factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with the BCM4323 802.11n USB products include, but are not limited to:

• Trends in the broadband communications markets in various geographic regions, including seasonality in sales of consumer products into which our products are incorporated,
• The timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders and our ability, as well as the ability of our customers, to manage inventory;
• The gain or loss of a key customer, design win or order;
• Competitive pressures and other factors such as the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products;
• The timing of customer-industry qualification and certification of our products and the risks of non-qualification or non-certification; and
• The level of orders received that can be shipped in a fiscal quarter; and other factors.

Additional factors that may cause Broadcom's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the list that can be found at http://www.broadcom.com/press/additional_risk_factors/Q42009.php.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss the foregoing risks as well as other important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

Broadcom, the pulse logo, Connecting everything, the Connecting everything logo Intensi-Fi, and Accelerange(TM) are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

    Contacts

    Trade Press                     Investor Relations
    Jessica Ingraham                T. Peter Andrew
    Public Relations Representative Vice President, Corporate Communications
    949-926-8008                    949-926-5663
    jessicai@broadcom.com           andrewtp@broadcom.com

SOURCE Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Mobile & Wireless

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