CSR Launches CSR8000 Connectivity Platform to Improve Voice Quality with Wireless Connected Devices and Extend Connected Device Ecosystem
CSR launches CSR8000 connectivity platform to significantly enhance consumer experience with a broader range of wireless connected devices
HD voice + Bluetooth low energy-ready CSR8000 platform in mass production with key tier one customers
CSR (LSE:CSR.l – News) today announced the launch of its next generation connectivity platform, CSR8000, which improves voice quality with wireless connected devices and extends the connected device ecosystem to include emerging Bluetooth low energy devices. This latest innovation from CSR supports classic Bluetooth, Bluetooth High Speed (v3.0) and Bluetooth low energy (v4.0), FM and is Wideband Speech (popularly known as HD voice) ready. CSR8000 products also all feature a DSP so customers can include audio enhancements such as CVC and apt-X. CSR8000 platform products are already being designed into consumer devices by CSR’s tier one customers and these will be available in shops in time for Christmas.
The first four products based on the CSR8000 platform cater for all levels of wireless device, from basic handsets to smartphones, consumer electronics devices, tablets, laptops and automotive systems. CSR’s enriched product suite offers combinations of technology to provide its customers with the most flexible way to integrate the wireless connectivity they need into their designs/products.
“The CSR8000 platform is designed to improve consumer experience with wireless connectivity in a broad range of devices and is a significant step forward in our strategy to provide end-to-end platform level solutions to our customers,” said Kanwar Chadha, Chief Marketing Officer at CSR. “With CSR8000 and our recently launched CSR µEnergy platform, we are also extending the end-to-end wireless connectivity ecosystem to accelerate the development of innovative devices that are Powered for Life™. CSR has designed the comprehensive CSR8000 family to cater to all levels of devices, from handsets and computers, to cars and consumer electronics, so everyone can take advantage of the latest features of wireless connectivity.”
CSR8000-enabled connectivity platform products are capable of communicating with both single-mode Bluetooth low energy chips, such as those found in watches, heart-rate monitors, trainers, etc, as well as the dual mode ‘classic’ Bluetooth devices that act as hubs for sensor information. Following the release of CSR µEnergy, CSR’s first single mode Bluetooth low energy products in July, CSR8000 also now gives CSR’s customers access to the emerging ecosystem of exciting Bluetooth low energy IC products.
Another feature, Wideband Speech, offers a dramatic improvement in call quality across wireless accessories, with improved voice CODECs and reduction of background noise and interference.
Several leading network operators worldwide, including France Telecom, 3 UK and Orange, are already rolling out HD voice services: CSR8000 simply ensures that users continue to experience the optimum quality networks have worked so hard to create when, for example, using a Wideband Speech-enabled Bluetooth headset.
Already in mass production with tier one customers, CSR8000 currently consists of CSR8311, CSR8510, CSR8810 and CSR8811. Each product has been optimised for particular applications, (see below for a summary of these products).
Products in the CSR8000 family:
CSR8311 for automotive applications
The first Wideband Speech IC qualified for the automotive market, CSR8311 is also the first Bluetooth low energy IC ready for automotive use. It uses an automotive QFN 0.5mm pitch package with availability of both USB and UART for modularity. CSR8311 also integrates easily with the recently announced SiRFprimaAuto multifunction location platform, the first connected infotainment system-on-chip (SoC) solution built specifically to meet the stringent quality and reliability requirements of tier-one automotive electronics OEMs.
“Car manufacturers have to look two, three, four years ahead”, commented Ahmet Alpdemir, Senior Vice President of CSR’s Automotive and PND Business Unit. ”We are seeing a significant amount of interest from automotive companies in both Wideband Speech, as a means of improving in-car calls and infotainment, and Bluetooth low energy, for the in-car sensor ecosystem. CSR has once again taken the lead to offer these features early and at the highest quality available.”
CSR8510 for tablets, notebooks, netbooks and PC applications
Designed for the PC, netbook and notebook markets, CSR8510 is a fully qualified Bluetooth v3.0 system that will also offer support for Bluetooth v4.0. It has a full-speed USB 2.0 interface and allows PC, netbook and notebook designers to develop products with the latest in both high-speed and low energy technology.
Together with the recently launched CSR Harmony software, CSR8510 marks the next stage in the evolution of PC wireless communications and will allow CSR’s PC customers and partners, such as Ralink and Realtek, to be first to market with new Bluetooth technologies.
CSR Harmony, (http://www.csr.com/news/pr/release/180/en), at the heart of CSR8510, is CSR’s intelligent connectivity software framework for PC components. By pulling together all of CSR’s connectivity hardware under one overarching software stack, CSR Harmony offers PC users an uncomplicated, unified wireless experience, while offering OEMs a comprehensive, simple-to-integrate route to market.
“PC OEMs want to integrate more and more wireless technology into new designs,” said Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President of CSR’s Audio and Consumer Business Unit. “What we’re offering here is a simple way for them to do that. CSR Harmony and CSR8510 can work with other radios to provide quickly a complete and seamless wireless experience for PC users.”
CSR8810 and CSR8811 for handsets, PNDs and PMPs
CSR8810 and CSR8811 offer Bluetooth v3.0 and support for Bluetooth v4.0 with IEEE 802.11 coexistence along with Wideband Speech. They are ideal for designers looking to integrate additional functionality alongside improved call quality into mobile phones and other consumer electronics devices, such as Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs) and Portable Media Players (PMPs).
“We work with the world’s most demanding designers and manufacturers of consumer electronics”, commented Matthew Philips, Senior Vice President of CSR’s Handset Business Unit. “In order to meet both their expectations and those of end users, we must provide exceptional handset products that enable the inclusion of wireless connectivity simply and easily so that sought-after products can swiftly get to market.
“As mobile operators are rolling out HD voice as a differentiator for their service, the inclusion of Wideband Speech in our CSR8000 connectivity platform means that this benefit can immediately be extended into a full wireless HD voice experience.”
More products will be announced next year.
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About CSR
CSR plc is a leading provider of multifunction audio, connectivity and location platforms. CSR’s technology portfolio includes Bluetooth, GPS, FM, Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11), UWB, NFC and other technologies to enable silicon platforms that incorporate fully integrated radio, baseband and microcontroller elements. CSR’s Connectivity Centre is designed to enhance the user experience with mainstream mobile devices by intelligent integration of multiple wireless connectivity and location-awareness technologies. CSR’s Location Platforms are complemented by wireless connectivity and multimedia capabilities for high-volume mobile consumer devices and commercial applications.
CSR’s technology has been adopted by market leaders into a wide range of mobile consumer devices such as mobile phones, automobile navigation and telematics systems, portable navigation devices (PNDs), wireless headsets, mobile computers, mobile internet devices, GPS recreational devices, digital cameras, mobile gaming, plus a wide range of personal and commercial tracking applications.
More information can be found at www.csr.com
