Mobile devices have enjoyed 802.11g Wi-Fi connectivity for years, and the technology is widely available on multiple platforms, including Windows Mobile. But 802.11n, the work-in-progress next generation Wi-Fi connectivity technology, has thus far been absent from pocket-sized devices.
But that won’t be the case for long, as Broadcom has developed a new combination chip which offers 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM receiver/transmitter capabilities.
Broadcom’s BCM4329 chip is currently in the testing phase and should begin showing up in pockets around the world sometime in mid-to-late 2009, just in time for the finalized 802.11n standard. 802.11n products, which are currently in the “draft” phase, offer up to 600Mbps data rates.