Chipmaker Broadcom has developed a way to integrate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and FM reception capabilities onto a single chip, allowing manufacturers to produce devices with the functionality without sacrificing cost, size or battery life.

The functionality would be integrated into a 65-nanometer CMOS chip. The solution is perfect for those looking to include more functionality in smaller devices, the company said. Up until now, added functionality required embedding more chips.

Additionally, devices with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on separate chips can be prone to problems due to the fact that the technologies operate in the same frequency band, 2.4GHz. This led to problems with the device itself creating interference that would impede use of the other function.

"Our new Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and FM transceiver will help to drive this evolution and enhance devices like digital music players by dramatically reducing the cost and complexity of these key wireless technologies in innovative mobile devices," Broadcom's wireless connectivity chief Robert Rango said.

Broadcom's chips are used not only in mobile phones, but some models of the ubiquitous iPod as well. Potentially, the new chip could finally bring long-rumored Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functionality to the device, as well as integrated FM radio.

Of course, Apple has not made any announcement regarding usage of the chips, and is normally tight-lipped about any possible future functionality in the iPod.

The chip would provide support for 802.11 a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 support that is upgradeable to 2.1, and advanced FM radio functionality. Broadcom says the chip uses as much as 40 percent less power than competing solutions.

Shipment of the chips is now occurring to the company's "early access" customers.

Analysts say that the advent of integrated chips is something that manufacturers have been looking for. "Integrating multiple wireless technologies onto a single chip is a landmark achievement that will be welcomed by mobile device manufacturers due to the inherent cost, space and power savings it will enable," ABI Research analyst Stuart Carlaw said.

Broadcom's chip breaks through a "major technical barrier," he added.