Murata Electronics Monday unveiled a new Bluetooth module for cell phones, PDAs and other mobile devices that is 25 percent smaller than the previous version.

Murata's BlueModule measures 9.3mm x 7.8mm x 1.8mm. In addition to the decreased size, the company said the new full Host Controller Interface (HCI) level device improves noise suppression and increases design flexibility for engineers.

Murata reduced the size of the module by increasing the level of passives integration. Specifically, the high-frequency filter is now embedded into the multi-layered substrate while the flash memory, as a bare chip, is mounted in a cavity on the bottom of the substrate.

In addition to size reduction, the new BlueModule, which conforms to Bluetooth Class 2, is reengineered to better suppress interference from applications using nearby frequencies. This is achieved through the enhancement of the filter function in the RF section.

The new BlueModule series is priced at $15 to $20. The current lead time is 14 weeks and bulk samples and kits are available upon request.