Marvell Introduces New Usage Models for Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Single Chip Solutions

Marvell 88W8688 Addresses High Volume Markets with Enhanced Features

Mobile World Congress - Barcelona . — Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL), an industry leader in storage, communications and consumer silicon solutions, today announced new advanced features for its industry leading Wi-Fi/Bluetooth single chip technology. The flexible open software architecture of the Marvell® 88W8688 has enabled the implementation of a variety of software features that are reshaping how mobile, consumer electronic devices can use Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity

The Marvell 88W8688 provides a Marvell mobile hotspot mode that can be used to transform any CE device with an Internet connection into a wireless hotspot; this feature is optimized for very low power consumption on battery-powered CE devices.

The Marvell 88W8688 also supports BT-AMP (Alternate MAC-PHY), which allows the Bluetooth radio in the Marvell 88W8688 to deliver 10 to 15 times the bandwidth of standard Bluetooth 2.1 implementations thereby facilitating the support of new Bluetooth usage models such as simultaneous audio-video streaming and instant address-book synchronization. The Marvell 88W8688 has full support for enterprise-grade smartphone features including Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) for security and range expansion as well as WLAN VoIP. The Marvell 88W8688 also supports WAPI for Wi-Fi enabled handsets for the Chinese market.

“By enabling all these enhanced features in our combined Wi-Fi/Bluetooth product we are addressing the huge international markets for handsets, portable media players, automotive head-units and gaming platforms using a single device,” said Dr. Partho Mishra, Vice President and General Manager, Embedded and Emerging Business Unit, Communications and Consumer Business Group at Marvell. “We are able to leverage the processing power of our embedded Sheeva™ CPU technology along with our expertise in building small ultra-low power wireless devices to provide a fully featured product offering with a total wireless module footprint of only 50 mm²”

The Marvell 88W8688 is optimized for best in class radio co-existence by employing specialized algorithms that yield three to five times the WLAN performance of discrete Bluetooth plus Wi-Fi solutions, while maintaining crystal clear audio quality for both SCO and A2DP. The Marvell 88W8688 has completed automotive grade certification. Wireless modules are available from several module vendors for both single-band and dual-band devices.

The Marvell 88W8688 is shipping in volume now. Marvell will be demonstrating this device in its booth at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona - CY18 (3-0 Courtyard). For more information on this device, and other Marvell products, please visit www.marvell.com.