Broadcom® Smartens Up "Internet of Things" with WICED™ Development Kit

IRVINE, Calif., May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

News Highlights:

• Broadcom Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) Smart Development Kit with Bluetooth Smart is now available through strategic distribution partners
• Access to complete Bluetooth Smart SoC, plus embedded Wi-Fi, enables OEMs of all sizes to seamlessly deliver connectivity to battery-operated devices for sports and fitness, health and wellness, security, automation and more
• The number of connected "things" is expected to reach 50 billion by 2020¹, accelerated by the massive growth of companion products to mobile devices, designed for consumers' increasingly on-the-go lifestyle

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today continued the expansion of its Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) product family with the announcement of the immediate availability of its new WICED Smart Development Kit through strategic distribution partners. The hardware development kit opens the door for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to develop products for the "Internet of Things" with ease. It provides access to a low-power client device with an integrated Bluetooth Smart (formerly Bluetooth Low Energy) software stack and application profiles, offering OEMs an easy-to-use, cost-effective embedded wireless solution with a small footprint to inspire connectivity in a new range of devices. For more news, visit Broadcom's Newsroom.

Broadcom's WICED platform eases development and simplifies implementation of Wi-Fi connectivity in an array of consumer devices, particularly in "headless" products without sophisticated user interfaces or existing networking capabilities. By adding the BCM20732 Bluetooth Smart system-on-a-chip (SoC) to its existing WICED platform, Broadcom helps OEMs develop products that effortlessly pair battery-operated devices to smartphones and tablets, delivering even more mobility to consumers' on-the-go lifestyle.

By using Broadcom WICED Smart-based consumer electronics devices for example, users can continuously monitor and control heart rate, blood glucose and other health metrics from their smartphones. Beyond monitoring, users can upload this information to "the cloud" for real-time analysis and graphical measurement, liberating the data from a singular sensor device and allowing it to be accessed from any client device at any time. As a testament to the versatility of its WICED Smart Development Kit, Broadcom is helping all types of companies deliver truly connected products, from iDevices' iGrill, a Bluetooth-enabled meat thermometer, and iShower^®, a Bluetooth-enabled water-resistant speaker, to Chamberlain^® Group, Inc.'s garage door systems, which operate under industry leading brands including LiftMaster^® and Chamberlain.

"Broadcom is leveraging over a decade of wireless connectivity leadership to offer new turnkey solutions that will drive innovations in 'connected' products, adding more fuel to the explosive 'Internet of Things' ecosystem," said Brian Bedrosian, Broadcom's Senior Director, Embedded Wireless, Wireless Connectivity Combo Group. "In addition to making more devices more intelligent, Broadcom gives OEMs the tools to help consumers free data that has been collected on these newly connected devices into the 'cloud' so that it can be retrieved and analyzed; anytime, anywhere."

By working with distribution partners, Broadcom's WICED Smart solution is being made available and accessible to all innovators and contributors to the expanding "Internet of Things" ecosystem, bringing world-class Bluetooth Smart capabilities and connectivity to a broader base of products.

"Broadcom is committed to delivering technology that will further fuel the 'Internet of Things,' and Avnet's customers continue to demand this type of technology," said Alex Luorio, Senior Vice President of Supplier Development for Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. "Together, Broadcom and Avnet can continue to open up new opportunities for large and small companies designing products across all industry segments."

"Broadcom has a clear vision for embedded wireless technology that tightly aligns with our Intelligent Systems strategy, making the company an ideal partner to deliver innovative connectivity solutions to our customer base," said  Joseph Zaloker, Director of Technical Marketing, Arrow  Electronics

Availability

Broadcom's WICED Smart Development Kit, BCM920732_BLE_KIT, is available today through distribution partners Arrow Avnet and Macnica. Registration, SDK and documentation can be downloaded at broadcom.com/getWICED.

For ongoing news, visit Broadcom's Newsroom, read the B-Connected Blog, or visit Facebook or Twitter. And to stay connected, subscribe to Broadcom's RSS Feed.

Resources

¹Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), The Internet of Things Infographic, http://share.cisco.com/internet-of-things.html

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments.  With the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and embedded software solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by connecting everything®.  For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.

Broadcom^®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything^®, the Connecting everything logo and TurboQAM^® 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.

SOURCE Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Mobile & Wireless