IRVINE, Calif. -- 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™ 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."
Roku Inc.