CSR (formerly Cambridge Silicon Radio) claims that when its BlueCore and UniFi wireless controllers are used together, "proprietary interference avoidance techniques" ensure that the two wireless subsystems are "aware" of each other. The company claims its controllers to be "the only available combination of WiFi and Bluetooth devices that enables files to be downloaded from the internet at the same time that the user listens to music, streaming via Bluetooth on stereo headphones."
CSR describes its pair of single-chip wireless controllers as follows:
- UniFi-1 Portable -- a single-chip WiFi solution capable of both IEEE 802.11b and g operation, and highly optimised for embedded applications. It integrates a high-performance 2.4 GHz radio, baseband processor and media access controller (MAC) and other radio components onto a monolithic die, providing an extreme level of chip integration.
- BlueCore4-ROM -- a single chip radio and baseband IC for Bluetooth 2.4GHz systems including enhanced data rates (EDR) to 3Mbps. With the on-chip CSR Bluetooth software stack it provides a fully compliant Bluetooth system for data and voice communications.
Telechips, a maker of digital multimedia processors for PMPs and cellphones, says its multimedia SDK targets the Windows CE, MicroC/OS-II, Nucleus embedded OSes, easing the task of integrating CSR's Bluetooth and WiFi controllers into next generation PMP designs. In addition, running CSR's BlueCore Host Software (BCHS) stack on a PMP's applications processor further eases the development process, according to CSR.
Tracy Hopkins, vice president of CSR's consumer business unit, added, "Telechips has a strong working relationship with many of the top MP3 and PMP manufacturers in the world." Hopkins added that wireless-enabled PMPs incorporating Telechips and CSR technologies can be expected to arrive "on the shelves within the next six months."
CSR's BlueCore4-ROM and UniFi-1 Portable Bluetooth and WiFI controllers, and
Telechips's SDK with support for the CSR controllers, appear to be available now. Pricing was not revealed.
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