Audio-plus is new growth strategy

Wolfson has outlined its new "audio-plus" strategy of using its strength in mixed-signal engineering to integrate other analogue-intensive mixed-signal functions with audio.

Wolfson Microelectronics believes that growth in new and existing classes of high volume digital consumer electronics, requiring high fidelity audio, will drive demand for mixed-signal semiconductors.

New applications like DVD-RW, wireless-enabled Hi-Fi, LCD-TV, VoIP and automotive entertainment are continuing to emerge.

Portable multimedia devices, like multimedia phones, DSC and MP3 players, are being differentiated with improved performance and functionality, driving a need for more integrated mixed-signal solutions.

David Milne, CEO of Wolfson Microelectronics, said: "We are seeing two trends in the market that we believe we can build on positively for the next phase of our growth strategy".

"The first is the emergence of new classes of high volume digital consumer electronics, with a need for quality audio".

"The second is that portable devices like multimedia phones, DSC and MP3 players will require more integrated mixed-signal solutions, to support improved performance and increased functionality with no compromise on cost, size or battery life".

"In the next year, Wolfson intends to not only release new, integrated mixed-signal audio semiconductors to leverage our existing analogue technologies into emerging markets, but we will also be developing complementary analogue strengths to extend our reach into existing markets".

A new range of "integrated sound and power" devices, which will be announced later this year, will be the first examples of Wolfson's "audio-plus" strategy of using its strength in mixed-signal engineering to integrate other analogue-intensive mixed-signal functions with audio.

"We see the combination of audio and power management functions to be an obvious integration path".

"Wolfson's passion for audio translates well into the portable market, and resonates with rising consumer expectation for the sound quality associated with new multimedia experiences".

Milne explained: "This is one of a number of paths for mixed-signal integration that we can see that should allow Wolfson to build new strengths alongside audio silicon engineering".

"In each of these paths, the audio quality is the element that most directly influences the customer experience, and the key challenge is always to achieve the benefits of integration without degrading that experience".

In order to support the trend for integrated audio-power solutions for portable applications, Wolfson has built a power-focused design team in Swindon, UK, which complements its audio engineers in Edinburgh, UK.

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