GN Netcom Selects CSR's BlueCore for Second Generation Bluetooth Headset

Business Wire, Jan 10, 2002

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 10, 2002

CSR (Cambridge Silicon Radio) today announced that GN Netcom has developed a second-generation Bluetooth mobile phone headset, which incorporates CSR's BlueCore(TM) single-chip Bluetooth solution.

The new headset will deliver Bluetooth capability, innovative design and a user-friendly interface to mobile phones, PDA's and laptop computers. The headset is the first second-generation wireless headset to be awarded qualification to 1.1 of the Bluetooth standard.

"Our headsets are small, incorporate state-of-the art design and are based on a user-friendly interface. CSR's single chip solution has enabled us to realize the design specification because of its small footprint on the PCB," said Hans Henrik Lund, VP R&D, GN Netcom.

"With CSR's proven success in the development of Bluetooth silicon capability and its excellent technical support, CSR was a natural choice as a Bluetooth silicon provider. Through our preferred development partner, RTX, we are happy to work with CSR as one of our Bluetooth chip-set providers on future projects," Lund adds.

The GN Netcom headset weighs less than 26 grams and features up to four hours talk and one week standby time, operating within a ten-meter range. By allowing users to communicate while having both hands free, the headset can provide an increase in user productivity, safety and comfort.

GN Netcom joins a growing list of major international companies including Sony, Compaq, IBM, Fujitsu, LG, ALPS, TDK, 3Com, Mitsumi and Motorola, who have already used CSR's BlueCore in the development of a range of Bluetooth products.

About CSR

CSR (Cambridge Silicon Radio) specializes in providing single-chip radio devices to the global market for short-range wireless communications, including Bluetooth(TM). The company's mission is to create the most highly integrated radio devices available, fabricated using standard CMOS technology, to provide its customers with the lowest cost of ownership of high quality digital radio.

CSR was the first company in the world to offer a true single-chip Bluetooth solution with a fully integrated 2.4GHz radio, baseband and microcontroller on one CMOS chip, with its BlueCore(TM)01. Together with external Flash ROM containing the CSR Bluetooth software stack, it provides a fully compliant solution for data and voice communications. Combined with an upper layer host software stack CSR is able to offer a one-stop-shop for customers requiring a complete Bluetooth end-to-end solution. BlueCore01 is now designed into over 62 percent of end-user products qualified to the Bluetooth 1.1 standard as listed on the qualified products page of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) website. CSR is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with offices in Richardson, Texas, Tokyo, Japan, Singapore and Aalborg, Denmark.

More information about CSR can be found at www.csr.com.

About the GN Netcom Group

The GN Netcom Group is a leading provider of hands-free communications solutions. The group consists of three companies: GN Netcom, a leading provider of hands-free communications products to the call center, office and PC applications markets; JABRA, the foremost provider of innovative hands-free products for the mobile consumer market; and Hello Direct, a leading business-to-business direct marketer of hands-free telephony and equipment interface solutions.

Founded in 1987, the GN Netcom Group has facilities on four continents, and its products are sold in more than 80 countries worldwide. The GN Netcom Group is part of GN Great Nordic, a Danish-based technology group, traded on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange (Reuters: GNTC.CO; Bloomberg: GGNDF) and the London Stock Exchange. For more information about the GN Netcom Group, please visit www.gnnetcom.com.