Broadcom today introduced new NFC chip BCM2079x, which it claims is industry’s smallest and most power efficient NFC solution. The chip is manufactured using 40nm CMOS process and it slashes power consumption by more than 90 percent, uses 40 percent fewer components and has a 40 percent smaller board area, making it the smallest and most power efficient NFC solution on the market.

Craig Ochikubo, VP and GM, Wireless Personal Area Networks, Broadcom Corporation “Broadcom is committed to making NFC as ubiquitous as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are today. These solutions provide the features and performance that enable disruptive innovation that will reshape the mobile consumer experience. Our leadership and proficiency in wireless connectivity influenced the architecture of these new chips to meet the performance required by OEMs, allowing them to more easily add NFC to their designs.”

The chip works with Broadcom's WiFi, Bluetooth and FM chip. It also supports Broadcom’s Maestro middleware allowing new NFC applications that utilize Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities in the device along with NFC. Broadcom has started sampling the chip and devices based on the new chip should come to the market by end of this year or early next year.