Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Cambridge Silicon Radio | Subject: BlueCore
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 12 December 2002
Audi hits the road with Bluetooth
onboard
Car maker Audi will be using CSR's BlueCore technology to bring Bluetooth to the road with the world's first car to be offered with a GSM car phone and cordless handset both Bluetooth-enabled.
Car maker Audi will be using CSR's BlueCore technology to bring Bluetooth to the road with the world's first car to be offered with a GSM car phone and cordless handset both Bluetooth-enabled The Bluetooth equipped Audi models are rolled out throughout countries supporting the GSM network in Europe and Asia starting this month
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 28 Jun 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The user is thus able to place calls over the Bluetooth handset and to transfer that call to the Bluetooth enabled hands-free phone system in the Audi.
One of the eagerly awaited benefits of Bluetooth, possible with this system, is the ability to also connect a Bluetooth-enabled portable PC or PDA to exchange emails and surf the Internet via a cellular system while connected through the TCU.
Bluetooth in-car hands-free kits are likely to play a key role as hands-free operation of mobiles becomes preferable, and increasingly, legally required in the near future.
Industry experts estimate that up to 70% of all mobile phone calls are made from cars.
Bluetooth hands-free systems provide a safe, convenient alternative and are set to become the first killer app for automotive Bluetooth.
Audi identified the benefits of Bluetooth and took the step of integrating the wireless technology into its vehicles ahead of the competition.
Ken Noblitt, Business Development Director for Mobile Phones and Automotive applications in the USA at CSR added: "To match Audi's stringent quality, reliability and interoperability requirements, the Bluetooth equipment had to be guaranteed to withstand Audi's in-cabin automotive requirements".
Noblitt continued, "At this time, only CSR's BlueCore offers such a guarantee to operate or exceed the necessary range of -40 to +105C for in-cabin electronics systems.
Automakers and automotive tier one suppliers can not afford to rely on anything less".
CSR provides everything necessary to assist automotive designers in developing a fully featured Bluetooth hands-free system, including a reference design, circuit descriptions, a complete BOM and all software (including the embedded Bluetooth stack).
The hands-free profile runs in external Flash memory but the circuit design may be easily converted to a ROM-based single chip solution.
CSR is the only automotive grade Bluetooth solution available which can run the complete Bluetooth protocol stack and application software on-chip, without the need for an optional external microprocessor.
CSR's mature, single-chip automotive Bluetooth device is also produced under very stringent QS-9000 and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) automotive requirements and is available in a 0.8mm pitch package for low cost printed circuit board construction.
In the future, CSR will make available implementations of new automotive profiles for vehicle diagnostics, streaming video and mp3 file streaming for multitmedia and info-entertainment.
CSR will also work towards further extending the guaranteed temperature range of BlueCore2-External and future products.
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