SigmaTel selects SPIRIT’s high-performance audio software for Portable Media Player ARM technology-based SoCs
Moscow, June 15, 2006 – SPIRIT DSP, the world’s leading provider of embedded voice & communication software products, announced today that SigmaTel Inc. (NASDAQ:SGTL, www.sigmatel.com), a leader in mixed-signal multimedia semiconductors, has benefited from SPIRIT’s proprietary MP3 codec optimized for ARM® processors.
“SigmaTel engaged with SPIRIT in pursuit of high performance codec technology for SigmaTel’s portable digital audio device offerings,” said Tom Zudock, Vice President of Technical Staff, Audio Decoder Software of SigmaTel. “There is an optimal combination of ARM processor architecture and SPIRIT software that reduces system resource load, while maintaining high audio quality. These qualities are a key component of SigmaTel’s ability to offer a superior solution to our customers.”
SPIRIT’s MP3 codec fine-tuned for the ARM9E™ processor family was successfully integrated into SigmaTel STMP36XX SoC (System on Chip). SPIRIT’s MP3 codec is proven to show the highest performance on ARM platforms (peak resource consumption is less then 10 MIPS). This feature has made it possible to achieve less than 45 mW total system power consumption while playing 128 Kbps MP3 on the chip, providing significantly longer battery life for the end-users.
“ARM is at the heart of this Digital Music Player revolution providing the 32-bit RISC processors that power both the user experience and the multimedia playback,” said Rob Coombs, Director of Mobile Solutions at ARM. “The high-quality software solutions that companies like SPIRIT are developing, highlight how compelling the ARM platform is for portable media player applications.”
SigmaTel is the largest supplier of MP3 players and audio chips to the consumer electronics market. Its Portable Multimedia SoC is currently #1 in flash-based solution in MP3 player segment. More than 300 player designs contain SigmaTel solutions. Apart from remarkable sound quality, SPIRIT’s MP3 codec provides extremely high robustness to damaged MP3 bit streams and very low MIPS and memory requirements. As a result, the end-user will hear and feel dramatically clear and high-quality noise-free audio while listening to voice data or music on a portable device. SigmaTel Portable SoC solutions empower device manufacturers and designers to create portable multimedia products that go beyond today’s ordinary MP3 players. SigmaTel SoCs can be found within the newest MP3 players made by Creative, Disney, Lenovo, Memorex, Oakley, Philips, Samsung, Thomson, and many others.
“Next generation SoC developed by SigmaTel turns out to be an excellent solution for all modern mobile devices like digital audio players, PDAs, portable video players, and many others”, said Andrew Sviridenko, CEO and Founder of SPIRIT DSP. “We are glad to have made a valuable contribution to SigmaTel’s world-known products. As for us, SPIRIT will continue to extend its reputed portfolio of solutions tuned for ARM platforms. SPIRIT already offers advanced low-resource 3GVideo Telephony and Multimedia software for the modern ARM processors”.
About SPIRIT
SPIRIT DSP (www.spiritDSP.com) is the world’s leading provider of carrier-grade voice & video software engines since 1996. SPIRIT communication software is used in over 80 countries and powers more than 100 million voice channels. SPIRIT counts among its direct customers Adobe, ARM, AT&T, Blizzard, BT, China Mobile, Cisco, Ericsson, HP, HTC, Huawei, Korea Telecom, Kyocera, LG, Microsoft, NEC, Oracle, Polycom, Radvision, Samsung, Siemens, Skype, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, ZTE, and 200+ other telcos, OEMs and software vendors. SPIRIT smart-phone OEM customers’ shipments jointly exceed 60% share of the global market.