Broadcom Corp.'s third-quarter profit soared almost sixfold amid continued demand for its communications chips.

The Irvine, Calif., company reported net income of $164.9 million, or 31 cents a share, up from $27.8 million, or five cents a share, a year earlier. The latest results included $38 million in royalties from a patent license agreement entered in July 2007. Revenue jumped 37% to $1.3 billion.

Looking ahead, Broadcom forecast fourth-quarter revenue of $1.17 billion to $1.24 billion, below the average analyst estimate $1.29 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.

"As in prior economic slowdowns, we expect to enhance our competitive positioning and drive the next wave of communications convergence,"

said Chief Executive Scott McGregor in a prepared statement.

Broadcom's products are used in Apple Inc.'s iPhone, Motorola Inc.'s cable set-top boxes and Netgear Inc.'s wireless routers.

By Kathy Shwiff of the Wall Street Journal