SAN JOSE, Calif. & CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announced that JVCKENWOOD has chosen CSR’s aptX® codec for use in its in-vehicle infotainment systems. The aptX codec is already prevalent in many Bluetooth® enabled mobile devices to support CD-like audio quality in a multitude of consumer electronics devices. This high-quality Bluetooth stereo audio will now be replicated in the car. JVCKENWOOD will integrate aptX into 13 of its automotive infotainment products, including navigation and DVD systems.
Consumers are increasingly using their mobile devices to bring their favorite audio content into the vehicle and they expect to be able to stream it to the head unit without compromising on audio quality. The move to use aptX in automotive infotainment products represents the further growth of the codec’s ecosystem and its proliferation into new markets. Traditionally Bluetooth as an audio content transport mechanism has struggled to fulfill all the key requirements for automotive OEMs, delivering audio quality below that of in-vehicle CD and radio due to the destructive nature of the default A2DP codec used. aptX enables CD-like wireless audio when streaming content from a mobile device to the head unit. By offering lower latency than other streaming methods, it also enhances rear-seat entertainment applications, such as watching movies and playing games. aptX offers latencies of ~35ms as opposed to ~150ms for A2DP streaming, which eliminates any lip or action-synchronization issues.
“Consumers are increasingly using their mobile devices to bring their favorite audio content into the vehicle and they expect to be able to stream it to the head unit without compromising on audio quality,” says Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President, Business Group at CSR. “Our partnership with JVCKENWOOD will enable automotive manufacturers to provide infotainment packages that offer the best quality wireless audio, ensuring they meet consumer expectations. And because millions of smartphones, including 70 percent of Android handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, support aptX, OEMs don’t have to worry that consumers won’t have compatible devices.”
In order to fit within the Bluetooth ‘pipe’ and transmit wirelessly, audio needs to use a bit rate reduction technique. aptX audio technology uses a non-destructive solution to ensure the audio is transmitted over Bluetooth’s available bandwidth. It replicates the entire frequency of the audio, maintaining CD-like audio over the Bluetooth connection and ensuring that users can hear everything as the artist originally intended.
In order to support the expansion of the aptX ecosystem in the vehicle CSR is offering aptX support in all of its latest connectivity devices including the CSR8350™ and CSRC9300™. The BlueCore5™ MM chip is another example of a fully AEC-Q100 device which can support aptX streaming in the vehicles of the future.
About CSR
CSR is a global provider of innovative silicon and software solutions for the location-aware, media-rich, cloud-connected world. Our platforms are optimized for the automotive navigation and infotainment, document imaging, connected home infotainment and wireless audio markets. We provide solutions to complex problems in the audio-visual, connectivity and location technology domains across a broad range of markets, with a technology portfolio that includes GPS/GNSS systems, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, FM, NFC, aptX® and CVC™ audio codecs, JPEG, MPEG, H.264 imaging, PDL printing, microcontrollers, DSPs and broadband receivers. CSR's technology solutions and market platforms enable its customers to deliver a superior user experience and are adopted by leaders in the auto, computer, home and mobile markets. More information can be found at www.csr.com. Keep up to date with CSR on our technical blog or CSR people blog, YouTube, Facebook or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CSR_plc.
CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains certain statements (including statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations or performance, or assumptions related thereto) that are not historical facts and constitute ‘forward looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 in relation to CSR’s aptX® codec, and its performance characteristics in automotive and consumer electronics products, and other future events and their potential effects on CSR. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as ‘will,’ ‘can deliver,’ ‘offers', 'allows', 'to enhance,’ ‘enables,’ 'designed to' and other similar expressions regarding the performance characteristics of CSR’s CSR’s aptX® codec and Bluetooth® Smart platforms, and their performance characteristics in automotive and consumer electronics products, and their potential effects on CSR. Any future release of CSR’s CSR’s aptX® codec and Bluetooth® Smart platforms or automotive or consumer electronics products containing such technology, related products or modifications to such products’ capability, functionality or features are subject to ongoing evaluation by CSR and its customers, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by CSR or its customers and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. Such forward-looking statements represent the current expectations and beliefs of management of CSR, and are based upon numerous assumptions regarding CSR’s business strategies and the environment in which CSR will operate and therefore involve a number of known and unknown risks, contingencies, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of CSR, including, but not limited to, those detailed from time to time in CSR’s periodic reports (whether under the caption Risk Factors or Forward Looking Statements or elsewhere), which are available at the SEC’s web site http://www.sec.gov. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof. CSR does not undertake to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein, otherwise than required by law.
Bluetooth® and the Bluetooth logos are trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and licensed to CSR.
Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi Alliance®, WMM®, Wi-Fi Protected Access®, WPA®, WPA2®, Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ and Wi-Fi Multimedia™ are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Other products, services and names used in this document may have been trademarked by their respective owners.
