- Fast and accurate location measurement possible with 10x improved tracking capabilities
- 50% reduction in power consumption and 44% reduction in mounting space with 40nm CMOS process
- Sensor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC capabilities enable innovative consumer applications
- Built on Broadcom's recently announced BCM28155 platform, it provides feature-rich location-based functions to Android 4.0 smartphones.

March 29, 2012 – Broadcom, a global wired and wireless semiconductor company, introduced a new location-based architecture that enables faster indoor and outdoor location tracking on smart devices. The newly launched solution opens the door to innovative applications such as indoor location tracking and location-based mobile commerce through the tight integration of proven 3rd generation multi-constellation capabilities, sensor components, and Broadcom’s industry-leading connectivity subsystem.

The architecture announced by Broadcom provides a new Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chip that reduces the waiting time smartphone users experience when initially searching for a location, while significantly reducing the Time to First Fix (TTFF) for outdoor positioning applications. Additionally, the platform solution enables groundbreaking indoor positioning capabilities, such as "Personal Shopper" applications, where data from inertial sensors, Wi-Fi access points (including the recently announced 5G Wi-Fi), and future technologies like Bluetooth beacons allows users to find specific stores and zones within a shopping mall. In addition, platform integration with NFC enables smarter and safer mobile payments in places where digital payments are accepted, such as specific countries, cities, and stores.

Broadcom's BCM4752 GNSS chip collects data from four satellite constellations (GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, and SBAS) and utilizes the best of the received signals to provide industry-leading enhanced multi-constellation support, enabling faster navigation and more accurate real-time navigation. Building on the success of previous GNSS chips, Broadcom's multi-constellation technology is combined with advanced signal processing to provide faster positioning capabilities for an improved user experience. This strength is particularly well utilized in urban environments where buildings and various obstacles can significantly impact accuracy and positioning time.

The newly released chip and software are tightly integrated with the Broadcom Inconsert wireless connectivity subsystem to provide the industry's most advanced and complete technology. In addition, Broadcom can provide more extended location-based functions by developing various connectivity components to operate as an integrated system, thereby extending beyond GNSS capabilities.

Key Features and Advantages
• Improved performance and reliability
o Advanced multipath error elimination techniques and a groundbreaking data collection engine provide not only a more accurate city navigation experience but also fast initial position determination times.
o The multi-constellation function collects data simultaneously from four satellite constellations (GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, SBAS) and uses the best signal among the received signals to provide industry-leading enhanced multi-constellation support, enabling faster navigation and more accurate real-time navigation.
• Minimize installation space, power consumption, and costs
The BCM4752 is the industry's smallest GNSS chip, manufactured using a 40nm process and occupying 44% less mounting space on the device.
o Minimizes material costs by integrating key components such as Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs).
The BCM4752 enables location-aware applications to remain active for extended periods and uses 50% less power than the previous generation.
New applications such as “geofencing” that provide location-based alerts or services can be completely offloaded from the smartphone’s CPU for minimum system power operation.
• Proven software platforms and openness to new applications
o Revolutionary indoor positioning through the integration of Wi-Fi (including 5G Wi-Fi), low-power Bluetooth, mobile device inertial sensor data, and positioning applications
o Industry-leading city applying mobile device inertial sensor readings to location measurement Navigation
o Data from GPS and GLONASS supported by Broadcom's WWRN (World Wide Reference Network), and top-tier AGNSS (Assisted GNSS) support

The BCM4752 is currently in production preparation and is being shipped to early access partners.

Scott Pomerantz, General Manager and Vice President of Broadcom’s GPS Business Unit, stated, “The remarkable growth of mobile devices is driving new opportunities for creative applications that enable more intelligent and location-aware devices. As a leader in GNSS and wireless connectivity, Broadcom is leading a new wave of innovation. The BCM4752 and advanced location-based software represent the third generation of multi-constellation solutions, combining GNSS with sensors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC to make these applications a reality.”

In addition, Patrick Connolly, Senior Analyst for Telematics and Navigation at ABI Research, stated, "Demand for GNSS-based consumer electronics continues to show strong growth, along with related markets that offer new opportunities." He added, "As consumers increasingly rely on mobile devices for advanced navigation features, advancements in signal processing, multi-constellation support, and indoor location and navigation application technologies will drive future demand for these devices."