Cambridge, UK – September 13, 2005 – CSR plc (LSE: CSR.L), today confirmed its BlueCore3-Multimedia silicon provides the Bluetooth connectivity behind Motorola's new feature-rich HT820 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones. The recently launched HT820 is planned for worldwide distribution in the second half of 2005 and will enable users to listen to stereo audio streamed wirelessly from a range of different devices, while remaining connected to a mobile phone for handsfree voice calling.
The Motorola HT820 removes the need to carry headphones for listening to music and a separate mono Bluetooth headset for handsfree voice communication, by integrating a microphone into the Bluetooth stereo headphones for use with voice calling. The advanced DSP technology within the BlueCore3-Multimedia (BlueCore3-Multimedia) chip significantly reduces background noise and echo and allows the headset to switch between paired devices. The headphones can receive music from any Bluetooth-enabled device that supports the new Advance Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), thus widening the range of potential music sources.
When paired to a Bluetooth product that supports the Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), a touch of the headphone's multifunction button is all that is required to pause music being streamed to the HT820 and answer an incoming call. Once the call is finished, one touch of the same button hangs up the call and resumes the stereo music stream from the point where it was interrupted. This means that users will no longer miss calls if they are listening to music and no longer need to remove their headphones to answer or make a call, without compromising on sound quality.
CSR's BlueCore3-Multimedia silicon has enabled the design of wireless stereo headsets to move from theoretical roadmap to consumer product. The Bluetooth hardware is a true single-chip that integrates 8Mbit Flash memory, an internal 16-bit stereo audio CODEC and 24-bit DSP co-processor into an extremely small form factor.
Device power consumption rates are less than 100mW (milliwatts), an important factor that helps to support the claimed 14 hours of stereo music, 17 hours of talktime and 500 hours standby of the HT820. In addition to containing an internal stereo CODEC BlueCore3-Multimedia is compatible with a wide range of popular external stereo CODECs, allowing the HT820 to be used with a variety of Bluetooth-enabled stereo devices.
Bruce Hawver, vice president and general manager Companion Products Group, Motorola Mobile Devices Business, commented, "Motorola is changing the way you listen to music, as the HT820 headphones make it possible to listen to music wirelessly without missing a call. This innovative product is enabled by CSR's BlueCore Multimedia technology. CSR is recognised as the leading provider of innovative and advanced Bluetooth technology so it was logical that we develop this groundbreaking product together."
The headphones are designed with fashion and functionality in mind. The wraparound style of the headphones fits comfortably over the ears and around the back of the head, a style that has proved highly popular with consumers for wired headphones. Each ear speaker features either controls for voice calls: volume up and down, receive, answer, end call, call hold or voice dialing; or music: play, pause, stop, skip forward and reverse. Problems associated with radio device use in air travel have also been overcome thanks to a supplied cable providing a wired connection to non-Bluetooth devices and safe "airplane mode".
"Motorola has listened to the demands of the consumer market and answered them with a high performance, fashionable device," commented Luke D'Arcy, product marketing manager, CSR. "BlueCore3-Multimedia was designed specifically in anticipation of this consumer demand for streaming stereo to cordless headphones, and now provides a solid base for all future audio applications."
CSR's position in the Bluetooth market continues to strengthen:
• In Q3 2005 to date, CSR has won 67% of all Bluetooth designs which are listed as qualified on the Bluetooth website.
CSR's Q3 highlights include:
• CSR remains the only company to be shipping EDR silicon in volume
• CSR has now exceeded 1,000 design wins, as listed on the Bluetooth Special Interest Group qualified products website
• CSR customers include: Apple, BenQ, Dell, HP, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Philips, Pantech, Samsung
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