CSR launches BlueVOX Flash, the only fully flexible, reprogrammable solution for low cost headsets

- CSR (LSE: CSR) today announced the BlueVOX Flash solution for fully flexible low cost headsets with advanced software features. Based on the BlueCore4-Audio Flash chip, the new solution combines a high performance, low power Bluetooth radio with 6Mbits of on-chip reprogrammable flash memory and a comprehensive SDK for complete software flexibility.

The market for Bluetooth headsets is increasingly competitive, and the ability to respond quickly to customer requests can be the difference between success and failure. CSR's BlueVOX Flash, together with the BlueLab SDK, puts headset designers in full control of the headset software, enabling complete flexibility to develop new features and to meet urgent, time critical customer requests, while still meeting a very attractive price point.

The BlueLab SDK includes full source code for Headset v5, CSR's latest headset software which has been extensively tested by CSR to ensure compatibility with a wide range of Bluetooth phones. These tests include more than 55 popular Bluetooth phones and cover all headset functionality in detail. A full test report is available from CSR, so headset designers can be sure that they are starting from a stable code base.

Reuse of code across BlueCore silicon reduces time to market. Software written for BlueVOX Flash is fully compatible with other silicon in CSR's portfolio, offering easy migration path to BlueCore5-Multimedia for headset designers wanting to add stereo functionality, echo/noise cancellation or an algorithm from one of CSR's eXtension partners. CSR also offers BlueCore4-Audio ROM, a ROM based chip that is pin for pin compatible with BlueCore4-Audio Flash, providing a quick route to cost reduction.

Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President of CSR's Wireless Audio Strategic Business Unit commented, "CSR is the only company offering an embedded flash based low cost headset solution. In an increasingly competitive environment, the ability to respond quickly to design demands is a vital differentiator for headset designers. Software designers have their own ideas of how things like the MMI should work, and with CSR's BlueVOX Flash solution, they now own the code and can implement changes, fix bugs and add features fast. BlueVOX Flash highlights the real needs for headset designers and is completely unique in its offering in being able to easily migrate to ROM based design for cost savings."

Further information on BlueVOX Flash is available from CSR's microsite:
http://www.csr.com/bluevoxflash

More information can be found at http://www.csr.com/ and the partner web site http://www.btdesigner.com/

More information about Bluetooth technology can be found on the SIG web site at http://www.bluetooth.com/