Cambridge Consultants
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12th November 2007

Low-cost platform opens new market opportunities for Wi-Fi devices

Cambridge Consultants today announced that the Iona low-power Wi-Fi radio, first shown at CES in January, has been developed and launched as CSR's RadioPro platform. Radios based on the platform will be available in shops around Christmas. With a manufacturable eBOM of just $15 this is the lowest cost Wi-Fi radio available and opens a door to a wealth of new web-enabled applications previously restricted by cost.

In addition to supporting over 10,000 radio stations through a dedicated portal, Cambridge Consultants' design has also enabled the RadioPro to have access to the latest software, receiving upgrades automatically via its Wi-Fi connection. The design's flexible architecture also allows full customisation of the user interface and menus through a dedicated software development kit (SDK).

The platform is based on two low-power chips from CSR: UniFi, CSR's single-chip Wi-Fi solution and the Multimedia Application Processor (MAP), a highly integrated chip with Cambridge Consultants' XAP processor, a DSP and a stereo codec. The low-power design of RadioPro boasts up to 25 hours of active streaming time running on a 1500mAh battery, enabling truly portable internet radio products.

"RadioPro is a breakthrough design that enables our customers to penetrate this market quickly, at lower risk and at low-cost to the consumer," said Tracy Hopkins, vice president of CSR's consumer business unit. "Cambridge Consultants' ability to help us deliver such a large development project successfully was crucial in getting to market quickly," she added.

"The combination of our creative engineering and CSR's excellence in low-cost silicon systems has delivered a platform of great versatility," said Duncan Smith, head of consumer products for Cambridge Consultants. "It has the potential to be applied not only to internet radio but also to new categories of low-cost web-enabled products and services, opening up new markets and delighting next year's consumers."

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Notes for editors:

Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property, and provides business consultancy in technology critical issues for clients worldwide.  For 50 years, the company has been helping its clients turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether they are launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies.  With a team of over 300 engineers, designers, scientists and consultants, in offices in Cambridge (UK) and Boston (USA), Cambridge Consultants offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including medical technology, industrial and consumer products, transport, energy, cleantech and wireless communications. 

Throughout 2010, Cambridge Consultants celebrates its 50th year in business.  Created by three Cambridge graduates in 1960, the company has grown into a leading technology business, renowned worldwide for its ability to solve technical problems and provide innovative, practical solutions to commercial issues.  In 2009, the company was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.  For more information visit: www.CambridgeConsultants.com

Cambridge Consultants is part of Altran, the European leader in innovation and high technology consulting.  The Group’s 17,500 consultants, operating worldwide, cover the entire range of engineering specialities, including electronics, information technology, quality and organisation.  Altran offers its clients ongoing support throughout the innovation cycle, from technology watch, applied basic research and management consulting to industrial systems engineering and information systems.  The Group provides services to most industries, including the automotive, aeronautics, space, life sciences and telecommunications sectors.  Founded in 1982, Altran operates in 20 priority countries.  In 2008, it generated a turnover of €1,650 million.  For more information visit: www.altran.com


For further information:

Cambridge Consultants

George Griffiths
Press & Communications Manager
Tel: +44 1223 420024
George.Griffiths@CambridgeConsultants.com

European PR

Ben Smith
EML
Tel: +44 20 8408 8000
cambridgeconsultants@eml.com

USA PR

Travis Small
Rasky Baerlein
Tel: +1 617 443 9933 etx:356
cambridgeconsultants@eml.com