Broadcom Corp. announced that its WCDMA processor is now shipping in Panasonic's new SoftBank 705P 3G/GSM mobile handset, which the Japanese operator SoftBank Mobile Corp. (formerly Vodafone KK.) released on Oct.7.

According to the press release, the new SoftBank 705P is a thin handset that delivers enriched functionality, such as a high resolution 2.2-inch QVGA LCD and a 2-megapixel camera, and operates on the SOFTBANK MOBILE network in Japan. This is the second 3G handset that is shipping with the Broadcom WCDMA processor, the company said.

The Panasonic SoftBank 705P handset incorporates the Broadcom BCM2141 WCDMA baseband processor, which provides a modular approach to mobile device design. Offering seamless global roaming on WCDMA and EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks worldwide, the BCM2141 processor enables a rapid upgrade to 3G technology by reusing 2G solution investments.

"Broadcom is pleased to offer leading-edge 3G technology that is carrier-certified in Europe and now validated in Japan. We've now achieved carrier certification in the two markets that represent the majority of 3G subscribers worldwide," said Jim Tran, vice president and general manager of Broadcom's mobile communications business unit.

"Broadcom provided an advanced 3G solution that helped us meet our requirements for the technical savvy Japanese market," said Noritake Okada, general manager, project management group at Panasonic Mobile Communications. "SoftBank 705P users place a high value on speed and dependability. Broadcom has been extremely responsive to our needs in delivering a reliable, elegant 3G solution."