Broadcom has adapted its latest 802.11ac chipsets to fit the growing demand for automotive connectivity. The company introduced the BCM89335 combo chip, also called "5G Wi-Fi," that combines 802.11ac with Bluetooth Smart technology to allow vehicles to connect to smartphones and home networks and give drivers access to a bevy of new applications.
Broadcom said it wants to enable cheaper and more efficient gear for the car so that users can connect to their car's electronics systems and do everything from making hands-free calls to connecting the car to the Internet. By combining Wi-Fi with Bluetooth, Broadcom envisions potential applications such as being able to record biometric information about the driver, i.e., fatigue and blood alcohol content. In addition, the company believes the chipset will enable such applications as being able to provide the driver with information about road hazards, traffic accidents and even monitor automobile speed.
The new chipset is sampling now.
The connected car market is gaining momentum as automakers, wireless operators and other tech companies fight to gain a share of this lucrative new area. Transparency Market Research estimates that the global connected car market will reach $131.9 billion by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 34.7 percent from 2013 to 2019. Interestingly, the research firm said that LTE is likely to get the biggest share of the market due to its lower operating costs associated with high data transmission volumes as compared to other technologies.
The company also said that while North America currently is the biggest market for connected cars with 50 percent share of the market in 2012, Asia-Pacific will be the fastest growing region, fueled by demand in China, India and Australia.
For more:
- see this CNET article
- see this VentureBeat article
-see this Transparency Market Research report
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