Broadcom makes new cell chip

Broadcom Corp. said it had developed an integrated third-generation high-speed wireless cellphone chip ahead of bigger rivals Texas Instruments Inc. and Qualcomm Inc.

The Irvine-based company said it developed a single chip with a baseband -- the cellphone’s main processor -- and a radio receiver as well as FM radio and Bluetooth, a short-range technology used for wirelessly linking handsets to headsets.

Broadcom said the chip which could put it as much as two years ahead of rivals, was available for customer testing.