CSR's BlueCore with DSP architecture adds MP3 support to GGBlu headset

Advanced lower power Bluetooth for GG Telecom's award-winning stereo headset

Cambridge, UK – March 22, 2006 –CSR PLC (LSE: CSR.L) the wireless communications specialist and global leader in Bluetooth technology, today confirmed that BlueCore3-Multimedia is at the heart of GG Telecom's award-winning GGBlu stereo Bluetooth headset. GGBlu can be used as a wireless stereo headset for music streaming, a mono headset for handsfree calling and while charging, an HCI dongle for file transfer from a non-Bluetooth-enabled computer. Supported by the inherently low-power BlueCore3-MM architecture, the GGBlu, which was officially launched at CeBIT in Germany, claims a maximum of 13 hours of music playback from only a 70 minute charge.

Presented in an innovative design which caught the eyes of the CES 2006 Design and Innovation Award judging panel, the GGBlu can pair with up to eight Bluetooth devices and maintain a simultaneous link with both a stereo audio source such as a PC or MP3 player and mobile phone. When a call is received, the BlueCore3-Multimedia technology and GG Telecom’s customised firmware inside the GGBlu will pause music playback, allowing the user to accept the call at the touch of a button, and resume music playback once the call is complete.

"Consumers are demanding increasing levels of functionality from their gadgets and Bluetooth headsets must now serve more than a handsfree, mono purpose," noted Lisa Tian of GG Telecom. "Bluetooth headsets must offer all their previous functions to a high standard as well as facilitating new applications such as stereo audio, while continuing to satisfy the fashion criteria of consumers. These different aspects required an advanced level of Bluetooth engineering and expertise which we found with CSR."

CSR developed BlueCore3-Multimedia with stereo music applications in mind. The single-chip design incorporates a DSP which not only provides the processing power necessary for high quality voice but which also supports native music formats such as MP3, WMA and AAC. By supporting these native music formats, the DSP removes the need to transcode the audio files to or from the standard sub-band coding (SBC) format used by certain Bluetooth solutions for stereo audio streaming. The act of encoding and then decoding MP3 files to and from SBC leads to a loss of sound quality as well as requiring high levels of processor bandwidth leading to higher levels of power consumption. CSR's BlueCore offers native support for these important stereo CODECs.

"Bluetooth stereo headsets have always been considered a logical evolution for Bluetooth technology, given the incredible popularity of mobile music," explained Sebastian Koh, VP Sales Asia Pacific, for CSR. "However, it has taken a few years to perfect the technology which ensures the highest quality audio as well as the simultaneous link between music device and mobile phone to prevent the irritation of missing a call. Once this was achieved in 2005, device manufacturers have created new products to encompass this basic concept, which will satisfy consumers' lust for both performance and design."