News

16/9/2003

BridgeCo Launches UPnP-Compliant Wireless Audio Adapter - Moving More Digital Audio to More Devices in More Locations, Wirelessly

BridgeCo (Switzerland) - in collaboration with Agere Systems (USA), USI (Taiwan), and MUSICMATCH (USA) - has launched an UPnP-compliant Wireless Audio Adapter (WAA) package. Demonstrations are being held at the Intel Developers Forum (IDF) in San Jose, California, from September 16-18.

Available immediately from USI, the WAA is targeted at OEMs that want to fast track entry into the growing wireless home entertainment market. Consequently, consumers are now able to network Internet- and PC-based digital audio sources with their existing audio devices, wirelessly.

The package consists of a small, standalone WAA (16 x 9.6 x 4 cm / 6.2 x 3.8 x 1.6 in.) that discretely plugs into an existing audio device such as a stereo system or self-power speakers. The WAA connects to the Internet for access to paid music services and thousands of Internet radio stations, which it automatically updates. The home PC, with free MUSICMATCH Jukebox Basic software installed, becomes the consumers' media player and personal audio library. Consumers configure their WAA network with an installation CD via their home PC in just a few minutes. A remote control and large matrix LCD on the WAA complete the package, providing consumers with a simple, familiar user interface. So, consumers will have easy, direct, wireless access to more digital audio from more playback devices in more locations, all without any extra cabling.

If the OEMs require distinct product differentiation and clear brand recognition, then the WAA industrial design, hardware, software, and language can be readily customized. OEMs can quickly integrate the WAA in their product families, and leapfrog from selling data networks to wireless entertainment networks.

"Our WAA platform - consisting of application software running on our DM800 network and signal processor - is the latest in our series of flexible, robust, platform-based home entertainment networking products," commented Christof Heidelberger, CEO & CTO, BridgeCo. "The consumer benefit is clear: more choice in more locations, with less hassle, less cost, and less wire."

The WAA platform incorporates Agere's WaveLAN(TM) 802.11b wireless networking chip set, including a direct-down conversion radio, baseband, media access controller, power management and software drivers. "Agere's WaveLAN chip set meets the needs of Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics such as the WAA by delivering superior price performance, throughput, range, power, and small-form-factor size," said Stan Swearingen, vice president of Agere's Computing Connectivity division.

CY Wei, Senior Vice President, COM Business Unit, USI, continued, "The WAA - a Swiss product, using American components and sub-systems, and manufactured at USI in Taiwan, for OEMs and consumers worldwide - proves USI's excellent consumer product development abilities and USI's capabilities for global cooperation with best-in-class players. The result is a low cost, high value line of CE products."

"MUSICMATCH is excited to offer our free, UPnP-compliant MUSICMATCH Jukebox 8.0 media player as an integral part of the WAA's user interface. This allows people to enjoy their music from anywhere in the home, which makes MUSICMATCH Jukebox more powerful than ever," claimed Bob Ohlweiler, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Sales, Musicmatch.

"The Wireless Audio Adapter is a great example of using UPnP compliance to create standards-based communication between PCs and audio playback devices. We welcome the WAA's targeted compliance with the forthcoming DHWG interoperability guidelines," said Louis Burns, vice president and co-general manager, Intel Desktop Platforms Group.

www.bridgeco.net
www.usi.com.tw
www.musicmatch.com