iPod Touch 2.0 Has Bluetooth, FM radio

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 6:22pm — Chauncey Dupree

iFixit just found a huge little omission from Apple's Let's Rock event. The iPod touch v.2 has a Broadcom BCM4325 Bluetooth chip.

This chip didn't just fall into the device - there are plenty of stand alone 802.11 chips on the market. While it is thought that this chip might be used for Nike+ which uses a special ANT PAN, it has capabilities to do so much more. It looks like Apple could have some plans for Bluetooth on the touch. What do you think this means for the future of the iPod touch? Will you be able to tether to another phone? Will Apple even open it up for use? How about wireless syncing?

Bonus: Oh, yeah the chip also supports an FM radio reciever. My oh my!

From iFixit:

This particular bluetooth chipset supports BT2.1+EDR. No word yet on whether the one Apple included supports A2DP, which would enable stereo headphones.
Part numbers: BCM4325GKWBG CD0825 B76332 P40 SF

via Giz

( Filed Under:

iPhone - iPod

)

Comments

Nike

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 6:27pm — heymeadows (not verified)

I'm pretty sure it's for the buil-in Nike+iPod feature. What I'm not sure about is whether the old ipod touches will be able to use the nano-dongle for the nike app.

Bluetooth plus mic - a

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 6:33pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

Bluetooth plus mic - a compelling product.
Reduce the 32G Touch $100 and it's a BUY!

Stereo Bluetooth

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 6:56pm — Tbone (not verified)

perhaps this chip will support A2DP and we could finallly have wireless stereo bluetooth headset support on the iPod!

Has Wi-Fi too?

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 7:23pm — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

The Broadcom BCM4325 = Low-Power 802.11a/b/g with Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR and FM!!

The chip was [indirectly]

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 7:37pm — Luis Alejandro Masanti (not verified)

The chip was [indirectly] announced when they spoke about the Nike+... you need a receiver!

quote:
"perhaps this chip will support A2DP and we could finallly have wireless stereo bluetooth headset support on the iPod!"

AFAIK, A2DP is a high power drainer, that the reason why Apple do not support the stereo headset profile in the iPhone,

whats a radio

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 8:20pm — cookieMNSTR (not verified)

who listens to the radio any more?

I do.

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 4:31am — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

I do.

Bluetooth

Wed, 09/10/2008 - 8:37pm — macerroneous (not verified)

This obviously is a bluetooth receiver, don't know about bluetooth transmitter, or must it be both?

At any rate, since it must receive, someone is going to find a way to connect a KEYBOARD! This has been my #1 wish for iphone/touch! Now we're talking computer!

iPod Touch and external keyboards...

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 5:44am — timr (not verified)

Does this mean that you can connect a bluetooth keyboard and use the iPod Touch like a mini laptop....?

Note to the Editor....

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 6:22am — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

Not a huge deal... But it's iPod touch, not Touch. (Lower case t. Same for the nano, classic and shuffle.)

It is "iTouch". Can someone

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 7:08am — 9to5Mac R33t (not verified)

It is "iTouch". Can someone please let Apple know? I hate typing out "iPod touch" plus the lower case 't' is such limp-dick. :(

Dude who cares

Fri, 09/19/2008 - 3:36pm — Willis (not verified)

Since when did anyone care whether the t is lower case or not. Even if it is or isn't, it's still expensive.

potential

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 9:19am — 9to5Mac Noob (not verified)

Surely this is also a way to have people who are stuck with a particular carrier for their mobile phone to be able to use the ipod touch as though it were a mobile itself through bluetooth syncing....? just leave your stock mobile in your pocket and use the touch as an iphone (just without the phone part built into it!).
This then expands the touch market to all those people who want an iphone but are either stuck with a particular carrier or need to keep their other work phone for example.....thus making the touch not just an 'ordinary' mp3 player if it wasn't already.
Genius.