Wireless desktop PC speakers from Lenovo utilise low cost Nordic Semiconductor nRF24Z1TM audio streaming device to deliver CD-quality sound

- The world's first wireless desktop PC speaker application to offer full uncompressed CD quality audio (44.1kHz, 4Mbit/s) has been developed by leading PC maker Lenovo.

By exploiting Nordic Semiconductor's nRF24Z1TM single chip 2.4GHz wireless audio streaming device, Lenovo's wireless speaker application delivers 16-bit sampling resolution per channel, 44.1kHz uncompressed CD quality audio across a 4Mbit/s data stream. The nRF24Z1TM is the world's first RF chip to provide CD quality wireless audio streaming and also exhibits extremely low latency. Its low power consumption also makes the nRF24Z1TM ideal for producing high quality audio and extending battery life in portable devices. The nRF24Z1TM integrates an I2S or S/PDIF interface plus a robust frequency hopping scheme to prevent degradation in performance due to interference from nearby sources such as WLANs, cordless phones and Bluetooth links utilizing the 2.4GHz ISM band.

The nRF24Z1TM employs an efficient, proprietary RF protocol eliminating the need for extensive standards ratification and compatibility testing. The device has been engineered specifically to simplify the addition of wireless audio to any application - from desktop PCs to wireless MP3 headphones - and thus shorten time to market.

"Lenovo has systematically worked extremely hard with Nordic Semiconductor to develop and bring to market the first wireless Desktop PC speaker application in the form of the LXH-J5146MW", says Jun Ouyang, Director, Product Development, Desktop Development, Lenovo China. "Its high performance, ease-of-use and low system cost, allied with the fact it requires no audio compression, set the foundation that enabled us to reach this significant goal."

 "It has been strategically important for Nordic Semiconductor to target the wireless PC speaker market in addition to the enormous progress we have made into helping companies develop market-leading wireless portable headphones for MP3 and CD players", says Svenn-Tore Larsen, CEO of Nordic Semiconductor. "That said, Lenovo's goal of being the first-to-market with the LXH-J5146MW has been a significant challenge for Nordic and for Lenovo, but by partnering together we were able to solve the technical challenges and we are extremely satisfied that the development has been a great success for both parties".

About Lenovo

Lenovo is an innovative, international technology company formed as a result of the acquisition by the Lenovo Group of the IBM Personal Computing Division in May 2005. As a global leader in the PC market, Lenovo develops, manufactures and markets cutting-edge, reliable, high-quality PC products and value-added professional services that provide customers around the world with smarter ways to be productive and competitive. The company says it bases its success on helping customers to achieve their goals in terms of productivity in business and personal life enhancement at home.

About Nordic Semiconductor ASA

Nordic Semiconductor (formerly Nordic VLSI) is a Norwegian fabless semiconductor company focussing on delivering world-best wireless communication solutions in the licence-free 2.4 GHz band. The company, which was originally founded in 1983 as a traditional ASIC design house, produces both standard products and custom SoCs. It also offers development services for other companies to access its world leading, in-house RF/mixed-signal design and advanced back-end/physical engineering expertise.

Standard products are based on the company's ultra compact and low power nRF24xx range of 2.4GHz transceiver and transmitter devices aimed at applications such as wireless audio (e.g. MP3 and portable CD player headphones and PC speakers), gamepads, keyboards/mice and sports equipment. The latest nRF24L01 family, for instance, is targeted at ultra-low cost and power applications such as wireless desktops and intelligent (e.g. wristwatch-based) sports equipment.

The custom/consulting services division derives its revenue from working with specific customers to integrate Nordic's wireless solutions into the customer's ASIC. Nordic often then continues to manufacture the chip in the long-term for the customer.

The data conversion business area develops and sells IP for use within in-house projects, third-party ASIC design and standard products. The products are leading edge ADCs and DACs for use in areas such as digital photography, WLANs and video.

Nordic's products are all manufactured in ultra modern semiconductor process technologies through strong relationships with world-best manufacturing facilities. Sales are primarily made through a carefully selected worldwide distribution network. The company has offices in Trondheim and Oslo, Norway, Hong Kong and Korea, and is listed on the Norwegian Stock Exchange (OSX: NOD). All operations are managed according to the ISO 9001:2000-approved quality assurance system.