SANTA CLARA, CA, Nov 03, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a global leader in innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications, today announced the AR6133 smart combination solution, the newest member of the Atheros Radio-on-Chip for Mobile (ROCm(R)) family, featuring 11n-enabled mobile WLAN and Bluetooth 3.0 technology to enhance the wireless experience with mobile gaming devices, eBook readers, portable media players (PMPs), and smartbooks -- a new class of SDIO-based mobile PCs. This solution builds on the strengths of the industry's highest performance mobile WLAN technology, the ROCm single-chip 11n AR6003 family. The AR6133 leverages the innovative AR6003 11n technology to deliver the highest actual end-user throughput, as well as the lowest current consumption of any 11n mobile WLAN solution on the market today. This high-performance Wi-Fi solution is combined with Bluetooth(R) 3.0 + High Speed (HS) to support a growing variety of new mobile applications.

In addition to providing Bluetooth personal area networking functionality, the AR6133 also supports Atheros' Direct Connect(TM) AP Mode technology, the company's peer-to-peer Wi-Fi capability for mobile devices. With up to 85 Mbps actual throughput capability, the AR6133 allows users to easily share HD video content with up to eight other client devices without an access point present. The AR6133 can also maintain an Internet connection while simultaneously connecting to other mobile devices.

Bringing a New Level of Functionality to Mobile Wireless

A growing number of applications can leverage the high-performance combination of 11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in mobile gaming equipment, eBook readers, PMPs and smartbooks. The 11n connection allows users to quickly and easily download rich media content from the Internet and Atheros Direct Connect to enable sharing of this content with a variety of client devices. Simultaneously, a user can connect to Bluetooth wireless audio headsets and speakers, mice or keyboards. The addition of Bluetooth 3.0 + HS further enhances the flexibility of the AR6133 by enabling seamless high-speed bulk synchronization with other BT 3.0 + HS-enabled devices.

Unparalleled Mobile WLAN and Bluetooth Integration

Like the AR6003, the AR6133 features an impressive level of integration including on-chip Efficient Power Amplifier(TM) (EPA) technology, integrated power management unit (PMU) for direct connectivity to the battery, sleep clock, and one-time programmable memory, eliminating the need for EEPROM. The solution also features direct connect to the antenna and on-chip self-calibration. These enhancements significantly simplify and reduce the cost of integrating Wi-Fi(R) and Bluetooth technologies in a wide array of mobile CE devices.

The AR6133 also provides an innovative unified interface which enables both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to be supported across a high-speed, low-latency SDIO interface, which significantly enhances the efficiency of the host processor and is ideal for low-power mobile operation. Combining the benefits of its unified interface with the AR6133's near-zero rest of bill of materials (RBOM), manufacturers can now deliver an enhanced wireless user experience, providing seamless LAN and PAN connectivity.

Atheros Universal Wireless Cooperation(TM) for Superior Wi-Fi Bluetooth Coexistence

With Atheros Universal Wireless Cooperation, the AR6133 goes beyond coexistence to offer enhanced cooperation between WLAN and Bluetooth signals. Using an advanced suite of mobile wireless coexistence techniques including channel protection and timesharing mechanisms, and the proprietary Atheros WLAN/Bluetooth Coexistence Agent(TM), the AR6133 enables superior WLAN and Bluetooth coexistence in any mobile device.

Unparalleled Flexibility

The AR6133 measures a remarkable 8.3mm x 9.2mm (1.0 mm thickness) and is available in a 64 pad QFN-like package. A footprint compatible WLAN-only option, the AR6103, is also available for manufacturers looking to add standalone 11n to an SDIO-based mobile device. The AR6133 and AR6103 solution options give designers unprecedented flexibility to address different application requirements with either a combo or standalone 11n solution, while maintaining the same PCB design.

"Combination solutions are growing in popularity among mobile gaming and portable CE, fueled by new entertainment and productivity use cases," said Amir Faintuch, vice president and general manager of Atheros' mobile business unit. "With the new AR6133, our customers can easily design a complete turnkey mobile 11n and Bluetooth combination solution into next-generation mobile consumer products, enabling consumers to enjoy the benefits of portable, seamless connectivity."

Product Availability

Atheros' AR6133 and AR6103 ROCm solutions are currently sampling.

About Atheros Communications, Inc.

Atheros Communications is a global leader in innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications. Atheros combines its wireless and networking systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency (RF), mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly integrated chipsets that are manufactured on low-cost, standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is used by a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer, networking equipment and consumer device manufacturers. For more information, please visit http://www.atheros.com or send an email to info@atheros.com.

Atheros, the Atheros logo, ROCm, Direct Connect, Efficient Power Amplifier, Atheros WLAN/Bluetooth Coexistence Agent and Atheros Universal Wireless Cooperation are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the sole property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Atheros