A global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, Broadcom announced the new Broadcom BCM2157 dual-core baseband processor, a baseband platform to provide simultaneous HSDPA modem connectivity Android-based applications processing. The chip brings in high-end smartphone functionality on cheaper 3G Android handsets. The affordable 3G Android smartphone platform will be demonstrated today at the Analyst Day Conference in Irvine, California.

“The smartphone continues to influence the cellular industry, with defining features like multi-touch screens and the ability to run applications now enriching lower cost handsets. We’ve maximized the functionality of our new Android-processing baseband platform to enable our partners to deliver the most popular features in more affordable designs.” – Scott Bibaud, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Broadcom’s Mobile Platforms Group”

The new platform will satisfy consumer desires to run applications, view and share data and enjoy the touch screen experience with a more affordable handset. According to Informa projecting, this is expected to augment growth in mobile data consumption, as well smartphone traffic by 700 percent over the next five years.

Some of the platform’s advanced features include:

* 3G HSDPA modem supports 7.2 Megabits per second (Mbps) downstream connectivity and worldwide roaming.
* Built-in support for HVGA displays, multi-touch screens, 5 megapixel digital cameras, 3G dual SIM/dual standby, and other key smartphone capabilities.
* Powerful dual-core ARM® processors for dedicated modem support and superior application processing (500MHz).
* Broadcom’s complete connectivity suite, featuring industry-leading Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and NFC solutions, including InConcert® technology that makes these various technologies work better together.
* Support for mobile hotspot functionality, allowing the handset to share the 3G connection with up to 8 simultaneous devices or users via Wi-Fi.
* The platform is based on mature technology, building on the proven architecture of the BCM2153 and is now sampling to early access customers with first commercial launches expected in Q1 2011.

And it’s not just Broadcom, Intel is also working towards a mobile chip offering, including an Android initiative.  This growing interest in the mobile chip sector is highly indicative of ongoing efforts around the improvement of mobile devices themselves.  As smartphones require more functions and features, their capabilities must grow in tandem with consumer demand and needs for practical use.  It’s been a growing effort for larger companies like Intel, as they must shift gears in order to address this consumer demand, saving their business structure, partnerships and market presence at large.

A number of companies beyond Intel are showing promise for the mobile chip manufacturing market, some taking niche approaches for their offerings.  Gaming is one sector that’s really helping to drive this development, with even Intel creating a combo chip that can handle gaming for smaller devices of the future.  This in fact ties back to larger patterns around the cloud, specifically the personal cloud, as smartphones become extensions of our daily lives, accounts and routines.  Managing all of that requires a powerful infrastructure behind it, and companies like Broadcom are gaining interest and relevance for this area of growth.