CSR partners with ARM to bring connectivity and GPS to mbed community

Partnership enables the developer community to rapidly create devices using CSR’s wide portfolio of connectivity and location solutions with the flexibility of ARM microcontrollers

Cambridge, UK and San Jose, California, USA -- Feb 27, 2014 -- CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announces that it has joined the ARM® mbed™ platform, an industry venture designed to nurture the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), as a component partner. The partnership provides the mbed community access to CSR Bluetooth®, Bluetooth Smart, Wi-Fi® and GPS connectivity solutions and makes it easy for them to be integrated into existing microcontroller projects.

The ARM mbed IoT device development platform is an initiative which provides hardware and software building blocks to developers, lowering the barrier of entry for rapid development of Internet-connected products and concepts based on ARM microcontrollers. The project also enables easy integration of connectivity and software components.

As a component partner, CSR is providing access to its world-leading range of connectivity and location solutions. CSR will be working to provide the mbed community with simple software access to its desirable wireless connectivity technologies including GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Developers can take advantage of the diverse peripheral options offered by the ARM microcontrollers available from multiple vendors such as NXP, ST, and Freescale on the mbed platform and use CSR solutions to accelerate swift development of a vast array of IoT applications.

“Whether a developer wants to build a consumer wireless home security system or requires connection for sensors to an industrial control system, this partnership gives them simplified connectivity coupled with total flexibility of microcontroller selection,” says Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President, Business Group at CSR. “With so many diverse devices being made that will be connected to the Internet, as well as with each other, this partnership reflects our commitment to ease developers’ efforts in getting their connected products to market quickly, easily and cost-effectively.”

“The ARM ecosystem is a cornerstone in the Internet of Things and the mbed platform being built together with our partners will play a vital role in accelerating the development of connected devices based on the ARM architecture,” said Simon Ford, director of IoT platforms, ARM. “Lead partners such as CSR who are contributing a portfolio of connectivity and location solutions to mbed make these fundamental technologies accessible to developers. This is important to enable the growing community of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who are bringing the Internet of Things to life and shaping digital connectivity across industry, infrastructure and society.”

The first connectivity and Bluetooth Smart add-on solutions for mbed will be demonstrated at the Embedded World show in Nuremberg from 25 – 27 February 2014, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS location solutions following later in the year.

About CSR

CSR is a global provider of innovative silicon and software solutions for the location-aware, media-rich, cloud-connected world. Our platforms are optimised for the automotive navigation and infotainment, document imaging, connected home infotainment and wireless audio markets. We provide solutions to complex problems in the audio-visual, connectivity and location technology domains across a broad range of markets, with a technology portfolio that includes GPS/GNSS systems, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, FM, NFC, aptX®and CVC™ audio codecs, JPEG, MPEG, H.264 imaging, PDL printing, microcontrollers, DSPs and broadband receivers. CSR's technology solutions and market platforms enable its customers to deliver a superior user experience and are adopted by leaders in the auto, computer, home and mobile markets. More information can be found at www.csr.com.