Nokia And CSR Collaborate

CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND, and San Jose, CA: Thanks to a licensing agreement, Nokia Corp. can now incorporate CSR's aptX Bluetooth audio-compression technology into its consumer-electronics products. Using CSR aptX technology and associated CSR Bluetooth audio chips, Nokia expects to introduce a range of Bluetooth audio accessories in the fourth quarter of this year.

Standard Bluetooth technology offers the ability to wirelessly stream stereo audio from handsets and other audio devices to headphones and speakers. Yet such bandwidth-constrained audio does not come close to what consumers have come to expect from their electronic entertainment systems. CSR aptX audio-coding technology promises to break the bandwidth barrier, delivering CD-quality stereo audio over Bluetooth connections.

"We welcome Nokia to the growing family of Tier One aptX technology adopters who have recognized the exciting possibilities that our Bluetooth audio solutions offerto deliver CD-quality stereo audio wirelessly and provide consumers with the most compelling audio experience," says Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President of CSR's Audio and Consumer Business Unit (see photo). "Because of its rapid adoption by Nokia and others, aptX technology has already established itself as the benchmark for wireless stereo audio quality for consumer-electronics products. It will continue to find new applications as consumers demand the best from their handsets and other mobile devices."