New R109 software development kit ...

New R109 software development kit dramatically reduces development time for feature rich stereo headsets

Cambridge, UK - 24 June 2009 - CSR (LSE: CSR) today announced the launch of its latest software development kit (SDK), that will allow manufacturers to create a feature-rich stereo Bluetooth headset within a short development time. CSR's Stereo R109 SDK release includes support for CSR's innovative Proximity Pairing technology, dual microphone Clear Voice Capture (CVC) echo and noise suppression technology, DSP-based music enhancements to improve the listening experience and the ability to read and decode music files directly from a memory card - transforming any Bluetooth stereo headset into a portable media player. This SDK further strengthens the company's continued leadership in, and commitment to, the Bluetooth stereo headset market.

Based on CSR's industry leading BlueCore5-Multimedia silicon, the R109 SDK dramatically reduces the time to market for manufacturers designing stereo Bluetooth accessories, and incorporates advanced new features including support for multiple CODECs such as SBC, MP3, AAC and AAC+. CSR's Stereo SDK supports DSP-based music enhancements including 3D stereo separation, five-band equaliser and dynamic range control to improve the end user music listening experience. Furthermore, speech is enhanced during a call using CSR's dual-microphone CVC echo and noise suppression technology.

The R109 SDK supports FastStream, CSR's low latency CODEC technology. It reduces the latency of the audio link (from source to sink) to avoid lip-sync issues when watching video images and listening to the audio on a headset or speakers. Competing Bluetooth solutions have a latency of up to 200ms that restricts their use in real-time applications such as gaming, video or mobile TV - comparatively FastStream has a latency of just 40ms.

CSR's R109 SDK also includes CSR's pioneering AuriStream ADPCM CODEC that provides superior voice quality when on a call and reduces power consumption by up to 30%.

CSR's latest Stereo SDK enables new application scenarios for Bluetooth headsets with the ability to read and decode music files directly from a memory card. Stereo headsets based on this design will allow users to effectively turn their Bluetooth stereo headset into a portable media player.

It also supports CSR's Proximity Pairing technology, which simplifies the pairing process by enabling the headset to find the nearest discoverable Bluetooth source device. Fully compliant with secure simple pairing in the Bluetooth v2.1 specification, the headset initiates the pairing activity and the user simply has to accept the incoming pairing invitation on the source device. Proximity Pairing is the only solution in the world based on Bluetooth that allows users to pair devices in this way, delivering a simple, spontaneous 'out of the box' pairing experience.

"CSR offers the industry's most complete software solution for Bluetooth stereo headset design," said Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President of CSR's Audio and Connectivity Business Unit. "In the first quarter of 2009 we won all stereo headset designs and around 80% of mono headsets, and this new SDK further strengthens our leadership in the headset market. Not only does it offer support for CSR's leading audio technologies such as FastStream and AuriStream, it also supports more CODECs and features than any competing solution."

CSR's Stereo R109 SDK is available now.