|
18 July 2001
Texas Instruments and Scipher Collaborate on Audio Technology
LONDON, U.K. - Scipher plc (LSE:SIP), the technology development and licensing
company, and Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE:TXN) today announced a strategic alliance
to develop and provide a range of advanced audio technology for the next generation
of automotive, wireless and consumer products.
This new relationship will revolutionise the way companies add advanced audio
functionality to their products. It provides, for the first time, a single source
of access for high quality audio software, which has been developed by some of
the worlds leading technology companies.
Scipher's patent licensing arm, QED Intellectual Property Limited, will collate
and manage into a single portfolio a range of audio software, which will be made
available for license to TI's digital signal processor (DSP) users.
Scipher's internal audio and DSP experts will integrate and optimise the software
for use on TI DSP's, saving product manufacturers significant integration time
and costs.
Access to this portfolio will give TI DSP users a significant commercial advantage
in the race to increase the audio functionality of their products.
Finally, by adding their software to this portfolio, the software's intellectual
property owners will have an efficient and profitable new route to market.
QED is currently sourcing exciting new audio technologies, for licensing, from
external partners who are leaders in the fields of telecommunications, broadcasting,
multimedia and consumer products. The integration of these technologies, which
complement TI's existing audio software portfolio, is made possible by TI's low-power,
programmable DSPs. These DSP's can incorporate updated features and functions
with a simple software download, rather than changing internal hardware.
Examples of audio features available will include speaker independent speech
recognition, voice-morphing, voice verification and speaker virtualisation. This
software will be embedded into products such as wireless handsets, portable Internet
audio players, in-car entertainment systems, digital television and consumer hi-fi
systems.
Dr. Ken Gray, Chairman of Scipher said; "This is a remarkable new type
of venture for Scipher and we are delighted to be working with a semiconductor
industry leader. Scipher's unique blend of IP licensing and product development
expertise is combined with TI's world leading DSP technology to create a novel
and valuable method for TI's DSP users to access high quality audio software."
"We are very pleased to partner with Scipher, a highly innovative company
with significant software expertise for the audio market," said Jean-Marc
Darchy, TI's European DSP Manager. "TI DSP technology will play a key role
in what we anticipate will be an explosion of new applications and our partnership
with Scipher will give our customers a unique combination of hardware, software
and IP solutions to help them get their products to market faster."
End
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing
and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. The company's
businesses also include sensors and controls, and educational and productivity
solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has manufacturing or sales
operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World
Wide Web at www.ti.com
|
