It has been predicted that use of in-car, WiFi-enabled applications will grow eight-fold by 2019. In anticipation for this growth, Broadcom is boosting its effort in this space, announcing a new line of wireless chips targeted for use in automobiles.

Broadcom’s automotive chips feature the latest in 5G Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart Ready technology that will allow drivers and passengers to easily sync and stream content from mobile devices to the car’s infotainment system and rear-seat displays. In addition to that, the new chips enable high-speed connectivity beyond the vehicle, serving internet and cloud content via LTE telematics or directly from a hot spot connection. For more news, visit Broadcom’s Newsroom.

“Car connectivity is the new battleground for product differentiation and the next frontier for Broadcom,” said Rahul Patel, Broadcom Vice President of Wireless Connectivity. “Broadcom is delivering our proven expertise and leadership in wireless connectivity to the automotive market. By providing the same technology and roadmap associated with the fast-moving mobile ecosystem, the possibilities enabled by our new wireless automotive chips are endless.”

WICED

This isn’t Broadcom’s first effort in the Internet of Things. It started back in 2011 when it launched the Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) platform which boosted development efforts in connected devices. It featured Broadcom’s BCM4319 wireless LAN MAC/baseband/radio, an embedded processor, a unique “self-hosted” Wi-Fi networking library, and a software application stack which allows manufacturers to easily integrate wireless connectivity into any MCU-based consumer product.

• WICED Smart Development Kit

In May, Broadcom made its WICED Smart Development Kit available to some OEMs to more easily develop products for the Internet of Things. Broadcom also added the BCM20732 Bluetooth Smart system-on-a-chip (SoC) to its WICED platform. The SoC helps OEMs develop products that effortlessly pair battery-operated devices to smartphones and tablets, delivering even more mobility to consumers’ on-the-go lifestyle.

“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,” Bedrosian continued, “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.”

On wearable devices

Last August, Broadcom introduced WICED Direct, a framework for integrating Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC and location technology into wearable devices. “The value of a wearable device lies in its ability to connect to a smartphone or the Internet with minimal impact on battery life,” stated Rahul Patel, Vice President of Marketing for Broadcom Wireless Connectivity Combos.

“As the market gains momentum,” Patel said, “[we are] actively widening business opportunities in this growing space by offering the breadth of IP and customized components that enable creative new, smart wearable devices to be connected.”