Next-Gen iPhone, iPod Touch To Feature 802.11n Chips

Ever since Broadcom announced their new 802.11n solution for mobile devices, people have just assumed that Apple would utilize it in their next-gen mobile hardware.  We now have more solid evidence that these chips will in fact be used in the next-gen iPhone and iPod touch. AppleInsider is reporting that:

Wireless radio component specifications contained within beta distributions of iPhone 3.0 firmware reveal support for a new chip enabling low power 802.11n that's bound for Apple's third-generation iPod touch. It's therefore also likely to be included with new iPhone models.

The current iPhone and iPod touch use Broadcom's BCM4325 which integrates 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.1, and an FM receiver all into one tiny chip.  The new Broadcom BCM4329 chip, the one found in the iPhone 3.0 beta firmware, would add 802.11n to the laundry list of features plus an FM transmitter.  This new chip will not only boost the speed of the devices over WiFi, but it will also aid in Apple's lifetime goal of extending battery life by reducing active and idle power consumption. This is great news for folks with 802.11n routers.  There will be no need to make your router 802.11g compatible just for your iPhone or iPod touch anymore, the result of which can sometimes cause network instability.  Unless of course you have other devices that require 802.11g, which you could then purchase a router with a dual-band network capability to allow maximum speed and efficiency to all devices. Either way, the next-gen iPhone looks to be faster than ever.

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