Broadcom has unveiled new Intensi-fi XLR wireless LAN (WLAN) VoIP router system-on-a-chip (SoC) platform offerings with features including 3G support, enhanced performance and lower power consumption.

Broadcom said that system OEMs can leverage its wireless silicon integration and a VoIP software suite to develop advanced routers and 3G functionality can also be added to these new platform offerings using a USB interface, bringing internet and network services to homes.

The company said that running a VoIP stack on the wireless router enables consumers to make high quality phone calls over the internet. Broadcom’s 802.11n design platform with external 3G support includes router options for low-end to high-end offerings.

According to Broadcom, the router options include BCM5356U, a single-stream 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11n router SoC; BCM5358U, a dual-stream 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11n router SoC offering; BCM5358, a dual-stream 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11n router SoC offering with VoIP support; and the BCM47186 which is a dual-stream 2.4GHz  IEEE 802.11n high-performance gigabit ethernet router SoC offering with VoIP support.

Broadcom also optimised new 802.11n router platform with Accelerange technology, a set of hardware and software enhancements for enhanced wireless coverage. The company uses 65nm CMOS design process and a high level of integration to reduce the number of system components on-chip.

The new VoIP offering includes Pulse Coded Modulation (PCM) interface; various voice codecs; 3-way conference call support; echo cancellation; interface to support 3G and 4G technologies including WiMAX and LTE (long term evolution) WAN connectivity; and low-power modes for a green router footprint, the company said.

Michael Hurlston, senior vice president and general manager for WLAN line of business at Broadcom, said: "By optimising our wireless solutions for popular consumer use cases, Broadcom is able to address growing industry trends in wireless routers including support for external wide area wireless networking (3G, WiMAX and LTE) and the ability to run a high quality VoIP stack.

"This product family not only supports these two new features, but also provides best in class system integration and wireless performance."