Qualcomm announces two internet-of-things WiFi chips

Qualcomm Atheros introduces two new WiFi connection modules for the Internet of Things, the QCA401x and QCA4531. The chipsets support various connection protocols, including ipv6. When they appear in products is still unknown.

The QCA401x chip is intended for single-purpose devices such as lamps and surveillance cameras. The QCA4531 chip should provide hubs with Wi-Fi, such as media servers. The QCA401x has a fully integrated microcontroller with memory availability up to 800KB and a range of different interfaces to connect directly to other sensors, actuators or displays.

The QCA4531 chip provides various protocols and can bridge between different ecosystems. In addition, the chip can function as an access point for up to sixteen devices at the same time. Manufacturers and users can program the chip through an OpenWRT environment. Both chips can work together with the Allseen Alliance AllJoyn framework. The QCA4531 can also act as an AllJoyn hub.

Qualcomm presented the chips at a press conference in San Francisco on Thursday. The company has shipped the two chipsets to different manufacturers and other IoT customers. The company hopes to see the chips in a wide range of products.

The company also announced that the QCA4002 chip will have access to six new ecosystems: Ayla Networks, Exosite, Kii, Proximetry, Temboo and Xively. In addition, the AllPlay media platform will receive new possibilities, including Bluetooth to WiFi steaming.