2G iPod Touch Has a Bluetooth 2.1+EDR Chip Inside, Microphone Support
by Jody Mitoma on September 12, 2008 at 7:33 pm
So, the first generation iPod Touch did not come with a bluetooth chip integrated. Many people frowned upon Apple’s decision to not add the ability to use bluetooth hardware and software on their top model iPods.
Well, for those of you who’ve held on buying an iPod Touch, knowing that a second generation model would be coming out sooner or later, you’ve made the right choice. Not only is Apple’s 2G iPod Touch (is that what it’s called? Or is it simply “The NEW iPod Touch”?…) skinnier – with its contour backing, but also comes with a built in speaker – unlike the first generation (which I am furious about), and a Broadcom BCM4325 Bluetooth 2.1+EDR chip built in.
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At the top of the picture above the battery is a metal cover. Underneath the cover is a Broadcom BCM4325 Bluetooth chip. Yes, that’s right, Bluetooth! Apple has said nothing of this publicly.
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This particular bluetooth chipset supports BT2.1+EDR. No word yet on whether the one Apple included supports A2DP, which would enable stereo headphones.
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This chipset also offers FM support, but Apple has displayed zero interest in FM historically, and there are no signs of that trend changing.
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Part numbers: BCM4325GKWBG CD0825 B76332 P40 SF
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Not only does the 2G iPod Touch have a bluetooth chip integrated within its cramped up innards, but it is being said that the headphone jack now has 5 wires instead of only the 4 wires leading from to it. What does this mean, you ask? Well it’s simply, lad. It means that microphone support has been added to the New iPod Touch, and with very warm welcome, at that.
Steve Jobs hadn’t mentioned anything about the new iPod touch having bluetooth support, or even microphone support – at that, so these finds are just as surprising to us all as they are to you.
There is no word on whether or not future bluetooth products will be supported for the iPod touch, but personally, I don’t see why we wouldn’t see the support come before the holiday season. The chip is in there, so why not make use of it, right?
One thing that might be using the bluetooth chip though, is the +Nike integration that Apple shipped with the 2G iPod touch and 2.1 Firmware version. As Jobs said at the Let’s Rock event, there is no need for an external adapter for the +Nike program on the new iPod touch because they took the time to fit it in with all of the other tiny, tight electronical devices found within the new iPod touch.
The bluetooth chip and headphone jack microphone support were both noted by the folks at iFixit (see here).
If for some reason you care to see more of the innards of the new 2G iPod touch, go on and have a look here.
(via iPhone Alley)
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September 12th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
It’s the Nike+ chip. The BCM4325 also does 802.11, and the Nike+ transmitter/receiver technology uses a proprietary 802.11 technology. There’s no Bluetooth — or at least, there’s no support for it in the OS. Just Nike+.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
I keep hearing people, especially Engadget, drool over how the 2G iPod touch (and yes, that is what it is called apparently on Apple’s website) is really really thing…but it isn’! It is .5mm BIGGER. Not sure what all the rave about the thin iPod is all about. I have a G1 iPod touch, and I loved how thin it is, and my 2G iPod touch is on its way right now, but I don’t mind sacrificing the .5mm at all for the speakers and volume controls and such, it just gets a bit odd when people get excited about something that isn’t true. It isn’t thinner! (end open letter to Engadget, haha)
September 12th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
yes, it’s most likely for the Nike+ support.
September 13th, 2008 at 4:08 am
it’s a shame they don’t use all the features of the chip. I would love fm radio
September 13th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Dont you all think the microphone support will have to do with there new earplugs that have an intregated microphone??
and the bluetooth chip probably has to do with the build in nike receiver or however they call it
September 13th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
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November 24th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
According the Broadcom’s Dadtsheet for the BCM4325 Bluetooth 2.1+EDR chip, it does support dual A2DP for stereo sound, the question though is when and will Apple “open” this feature up? Beyond that and more importantly, will the Bluetooth shipset allow the iPod Touch to interact with other Bluetooth devices as cells phones already do, allowing for import/export of music, images, and video? One would serious doubt the music end of this due to the overblown issues of music piracy and the current standing of the industry but hopefully this will not effect the possibility of the latter two being possible soon. One can hope!
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I’ve tested the apple headset with mic on fring and palringo and it works perfectly! I now have another voip phone to use with my skype account! via fring. I can’t wait until skype comes out with an official skype app for the touch!
December 30th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
nothing about fm radio or bluetooth that you said is true.
January 4th, 2009 at 7:38 am
[...] nevnes ingenting om bluetooth på iPod Touch; noe som kanskje ikke er så rart, siden dens bluetooth-chip tilsynelatende kun lar seg bruke opp [...]
June 17th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
bluetooth headset yall
June 18th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
yep, it all true, with apples 3.0 software update you can now you bluetooth headphones check it out on there web site.
P.S. the update is $9.95 for ipod touch users
June 18th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
That is correct.
June 19th, 2009 at 1:04 am
Great, Apple’s decided to charge us even more for something that should be free! Is the new 3.0 software/firmware even safe? I NEVER pull an update till about 3 months after it’s released, a wise habit from my I.T. Admin. days. I learned sadly that even 3 months is even safe with Apple’s concerned. After 3 months, I pulled the 2.2.1 update and it effective “soft-bricked” my Touch! I had to do a complete restore to the unit which took about 5 or 6 hours! And was there ANYTHING worth doing the update over? NO! Except for the fact that Apple had “raised the bar” and made it so that alot of my admin apps had to have 2.2.1 to even run; great work Apple!
As for the new 3.0 update, I’ll give it 6 months and then maybe give it a shot by then this $10 robbery should be over with, let’s hope! Because wi-fi headphone access definitely IS NOT worth $10! Here that Apple!
June 19th, 2009 at 2:19 am
True enough, most of the new features are for the iPhone 3G S and older models, however these new features don’t really give much to the iPod Touch lineup, thus not being worth the full $9.95 price tag. I’d say $4.95 would be better-worthy of an update cost this time around.
It wouldn’t hurt to get a free update either, of course… But apparently there is some sort of issue with Apple not being able to do that, or something along those lines. I forget.
July 30th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
So, does this mean I can use my motorola blue toothe headset with my iPOD touch 2G? If so, how would I be able to get them paired up?