CSR Launches Highly Integrated Wireless Single Chip

UK based CSR has announced the launch of its seventh generation BlueCore silicon, which integrates Bluetooth v2.1+EDR, Bluetooth low energy, eGPS, and FM transmit and receive technologies on a single chip. BlueCore7 includes CSR's proprietary AuriStream voice CODEC, which produces the quality of a fixed line call, when using a Bluetooth connection, and is capable of a 30% reduction in power consumption.

In April, CSR gave the world's first public demonstration of Bluetooth low energy technology. Bluetooth low energy (previously known as Ultra Low Power Bluetooth or Wibree) uses fewer frequencies to make connections while retaining the proven robustness of Bluetooth. This means BlueCore7 with Bluetooth low energy takes less time to connect than conventional Bluetooth and results in lower power consumption when connectable.

Demonstrated by CSR at this year's Mobile World Congress, CSR's eGPS technology is a revolutionary approach in making location based technologies a viable proposition for mobile handsets. By sharing resources with the Bluetooth radio and leveraging memory and processing already available on the host platform, CSR has reduced the cost and made significant power and performance improvements necessary for embedding GPS functionality into a mobile handset. Current GPS technologies only meet the basic needs of consumers and regulatory requirements. CSR's eGPS provides users with faster and more accurate position information, on demand and in all environments even deep indoors.

Matthew Phillips, Senior Vice President of CSR's Mobile Handset Connectivity strategic business unit commented, "BlueCore7 is a truly intelligent new architecture that integrates more wireless technologies on a single chip than any other product on the market. Building upon our strengths in Bluetooth and our expertise in embedded wireless technologies, BlueCore7 delivers a robust and comprehensive solution that boasts the industry's leading power and performance figures." Phillips continued, "We have seen high demand from our customers for Bluetooth, GPS and FM functionality, coupled with an industry need to keep cost, size and power consumption of embedding such technologies to a minimum. CSR's core focus is and always has been in embedded wireless connectivity and due to customer demand we have now developed a connectivity centre that reduces the complexity of integrating multiple radios into mobile phones and other consumer portable electronic devices."

BlueCore7 is available in QFN and WLCSP packaging and will be in volume production from Q4 2008.

Posted to the site on 5th June 2008