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Frontier Silicon, a leading supplier of connected audio technology, has announced that it has become the latest chipset technology platform provider to partner with Last.fm for its internet radio service. With this partnership, approved consumer electronics manufacturers can now quickly add a feature in their hardware radios or connected audio equipment using Frontier Silicon’s hardware and software that allows users to easily access the personal radio service of Last.fm.
The company’s Venice 6.2 module and IR2.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) together form a complete solution for developing products enabling multiple content streams, internet radio, digital radio (DAB/DAB+/DMB-A), FM, network audio and premium music services. Frontier Silicon also provides a fully-qualified reference platform, Jupiter 6.2, which includes the module and software along with LCD graphic display.
Martin Stiksel, co-founder of Last.fm said, “We are delighted to engage with Frontier Silicon as an established technology platform for our personal radio service. We recognize that consumer electronics is a key part of future growth and that this offering is a welcome addition to our market development strategy.”
Anthony Sethill, CEO of Frontier Silicon, commented, “All market indicators show great potential for growth in Internet radio; hence we are extremely pleased to achieve this certification. Our Venice 6.2 module with the IR2.0 software stack is the most complete networked consumer electronics and DAB digital receiver solution on the market, with comprehensive software that allows manufacturers to quickly implement streaming and networked audio capability.” He added, “We expect to see first products in mass production based on Frontier Silicon’s technology for Last.fm in May 2009.”
The Venice 6.2 module provides complete hardware functionality for networked audio solutions, including built-in IEEE 802.11b/g wireless LAN functionality, removing the need for a separate wireless module. Venice 6.2 features Frontier’s own Chorus 2 baseband system-on-chip (SoC), integrating a multi-tasking, multi-threading META™ processor, which has been designed to address DAB and networked audio applications.
Frontier Silicon’s IR2.0 is a comprehensive software stack for Internet radio, enabling network connectivity – either wired via Ethernet or wireless using IEEE 802.11b/g. The software also provides audio decoding in MP3, WMA, AAC and Real formats, an advanced user interface for control and content browsing, and a system management function that includes network discovery and system configuration. The user interface can be further customized for the OEM or ODM, in order to provide a unique appearance and to enhance the user experience.
Frontier Silicon is the world’s leading supplier of integrated circuits and modules for digital audio receiver products and mobile digital TV. Established in 2001 as a privately funded fabless semiconductor company, Frontier Silicon has over 140 employees. The company is based in Watford, England, with design centres in Cambridge, Dublin and Shannon. Frontier Silicon also has branch offices and technical support representation in Hong Kong, China and Japan. Products include complete solutions for digital audio systems including DAB, internet radio and mobile TV, from silicon through software to production-ready platform designs.
Customers include Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Bush, Cyrus, Denon, Goodmans, Grundig, harman/kardon, Hitachi, JVC, Magic Box, Ministry of Sound, NAD, Onkyo, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, PURE, Revo, Roberts, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony, TEAC, Tivoli Audio and Yamaha.
Frontier Silicon is a trademark or registered trademark of Frontier Silicon Ltd.
MPEG-4 HE-AAC audio coding technology licensed by Fraunhofer IIS. Imagination Technologies, the Imagination Technologies logo, POWERVR, META, ENSIGMA and CODESCAPE are trademarks or registered trademarks of Imagination Technologies Ltd. Windows and Windows Media are trademarks or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. RealAudio is a registered trademark of RealNetworks, Inc.
Founded in 2002, Last.fm is a CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) owned free global music platform. Last.fm offers music fans millions of tracks in every genre for free-on-demand and radio streaming thanks to partnerships with Universal, EMI, Sony BMG, CD Baby, independent aggregators The Orchard and IODA, and more than 280,000 independent artists and labels - without needing to register or download software. Last.fm can intelligently recommend its 25 million monthly users new songs, artists, local concerts and even other members based on their musical tastes. Last.fm also supports unsigned artists by offering them an unprecedented Artist Royalty program through which they can earn revenue directly from Last.fm every time their music is streamed. Learn more about Last.fm at the website.
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