Press Release

IRVINE, Calif., June 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

News Highlights:

• Test Bed leverages Broadcom technology as a benchmark for certification; chips among first to obtain Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™ designation
• Program enables certified devices to connect automatically, making Wi-Fi access on-the-go seamless  
• Passpoint program coupled with new 5G WiFi (based on the IEEE 802.11ac standard) addresses service provider need to offload data traffic to Wi-Fi networks

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced the Wi-Fi Alliance selected Broadcom for its Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™ Test Bed. Broadcom's BCM43224, BCM4718 and BCM4322 are among the first chips to obtain the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™ designation and will be used as a benchmark for testing and validating future products. For more news, visit Broadcom's Newsroom.

Today, connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots can be burdensome, requiring the user to search for a network, request a connection, and in many cases, re-enter authentication credentials. The Passpoint certification program, based on the Wi-Fi Alliance Hotspot 2.0 Specification, changes this process by finding and connecting automatically to other certified devices without manual intervention. In addition to making it easy for end users to connect, hotspots equipped with Passpoint-certified equipment automatically enable enterprise-grade WPA2™ security. For more information on Passpoint, visit http://www.wi-fi.org/passpoint.

The Passpoint program, designed by service providers and equipment makers in the Wi-Fi Alliance, will also help offload data traffic more seamlessly to Wi-Fi networks. The explosion of Internet data traffic over mobile networks is putting stress on crowded cellular networks. The Passpoint program coupled with 5G WiFi, the fifth generation of Wi-Fi based on the IEEE 802.11ac standard, will further alleviate the cellular spectrum crunch by delivering faster, more reliable wireless connectivity to accommodate the growing demand for content consumption.  All of Broadcom's future 5G WiFi devices will ship with Passpoint capability.  For more information on 5G WiFi, visit www.5GWiFi.org. 

For ongoing news, visit Broadcom's Newsroom, read the B-Connected Blog, or visit Facebook or Twitter. And to stay connected, subscribe to Broadcom's RSS Feed.

Quotes:

Edgar Figueroa, CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance

"We congratulate Broadcom on achieving selection to the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™ Test Bed. Broadcom's participation in the development of this program has been instrumental in the achievement of an industry-wide certification for this program."

Clint Brown, Broadcom Associate Director, Connectivity Combo Group

"Carriers are rushing to expand their networks to keep pace with consumers' insatiable hunger for mobile devices and content. Passpoint will enable service providers to ease the current strain on the cellular networks and easily offload traffic to Wi-Fi. This coupled with the emergence of 5G WiFi (based on IEEE 802.11ac) will ensure consumers have fast, reliable Internet access to what they want, where they want it."

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a FORTUNE 500® company, is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments.  With the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and embedded software solutions, Broadcom is changing the world by connecting everything®.  For more information, go to www.broadcom.com.

Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything®, and the Connecting everything logo are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU.  Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Broadcom Corporation; BRCM Mobile & Wireless