Conexant Launches World's First Family of Speakers-on-a-Chip Semiconductor Solutions

Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNXT) today announced the availability of the world’s first family of "speakers-on-a-chip” (SPoC) solutions. The CX20562 integrates key speaker technology and processing functionality into a single device, and is targeted at products that support high-definition audio and voice applications. These include emerging PC sound systems that integrate the functionality of audio speakers and echo-free speakerphones into a single "all-in-one” peripheral, speakers, LCD multimedia monitors, iPod/MP3 docking systems, notebook docking stations, and voice-over-IP (VoIP) peripherals such as speakerphones. The single-chip SPoC solution also supports value-added consumer features such as Instant Messaging (IM) "hotkey” launch capabilities, music-on-hold, microphone mute, and noise reduction for private chat. "We are leveraging our industry-leading market positions and technical expertise to deliver innovative new solutions for growth opportunities in PC audio and video applications,” said Bernd Lienhard, senior vice president and general manager of Conexant’s Imaging and PC Media business. "Our ‘first-of-its-kind’ audio solution is representative of the new products we are developing in order to expand into new, high-volume consumer markets.” "The increased availability of downloadable music and entertainment, and growing popularity of VoIP for business and personal communications, has sparked demand from consumers for higher quality, cost-effective audio,” said Will Strauss, president of market research firm Forward Concepts. "Conexant’s new speakers-on-a-chip family provides the foundation for more cost-effective VoIP full-duplex speakerphones, and also enables PCs to support high-quality audio entertainment and Skype communication speakerphone capabilities.” The single-chip CX20562 integrates the functionality of a digital audio/voice processor, audio codec, and Class-D amplifier into a single, cost-effective package. Key features include advanced sound processing, echo-cancellation, and noise-reduction technology to enable superior audio quality. In addition, the SPoC solutions have an integrated universal serial bus (USB) interface that allows manufacturers to develop plug-and-play products that are PC and Mac compatible, and an auxiliary analog input that enables connections to a wide range of audio peripherals. Conexant has leveraged its long history in voice processing and coding, and extensive IP portfolio, to deliver technical innovations that dramatically improve audio quality. Technical advancements featured in the CX20562 include: BrightSound™: A Conexant-developed sound processing algorithm that uses dynamic range compression and equalization to "brighten” audio quality when source sound levels are low. BrightSound reduces speaker "clipping,” which occurs when volume is turned up and the power required to generate the louder signal is beyond a level the speaker can support. When this happens, the sound signal is cut-off, or clipped, and audio quality is distorted. In addition, the excessive power clipping can cause damage to the speaker transducer. BrightSound also has a "night mode” capability that attenuates the loud background sound signals (e.g. sirens or the sound of an explosion), but elevates the sound of a person’s voice. This allows consumers to clearly hear the vocal track when watching a movie or playing a video game without increasing the volume and disturbing others. Wideband Echo-cancellation: An advanced wideband acoustic echo-cancellation digital signal processor (DSP) captures a broader range of voice signals resulting in more natural sounding speech. Speaker-to-microphone echo is also reduced, which is a common problem that affects PC VoIP and IM applications. Currently, consumers are often encouraged to use headphones or a headset to solve this issue. The CX20562 significantly diminishes feedback, allowing consumers to have untethered and consistently high-quality, echo-free voice conversations. Noise Reduction: A high-performance DSP array microphone blocks out background noise to improve audio quality. Conexant’s unique beam-forming technology is used to combine signals from multiple microphones into a single "beam” that is focused on a person making a VoIP call. Narrowing the microphone "pick-up” radius helps eliminate background noise, and improves the quality of VoIP calls. The CX20562 is USB Audio Class Compliant and supports basic audio interfaces including auxiliary input, headphone jack, internal microphone input, digital/analog volume control, speaker mute, and microphone mute. Optional features include support for an additional 20-key keypad and an LCD display controller interface. The feature-rich SPoC also supports a wide range of one-time programmable features to maximize design flexibility. In addition, manufacturers have the option of developing products that draw power from the USB host, or from an external power source for higher output products such as speakers with woofers. An audio/visual demonstration that highlights the company’s technical innovations can be found at www.conexant.com/spocdemo. Availability, Packaging, and Pricing The CX20562 is packaged in a 48-pin quad flat no-lead (QFN) package and is available now. It is priced at $2.00 to $3.75 each in 10K volume quantities, depending on the feature set (see below). A complete evaluation kit that includes a reference design, software, and technical documentation is also offered for $200. To learn more or place an order, please contact your local sales office (http://www.conexant.com/wwsales). CX20562 Feature Comparison Chart   Feature   Standard CX20562-14Z   Multimedia CX20562-15Z   Professional CX20562-16Z Class-D Speaker Output   Yes   Yes   Yes Microphone Input   Yes   Yes   Yes Volume Control   Yes   Yes   Yes IM Launch Button and LED   Yes   Yes   Yes Auxiliary Line-in Input   Yes   Yes   Yes Headphone Output       Yes   Yes Mic Mute Button and LED       Yes   Yes Additional 20-key Keypad Buttons           Yes LCD Interface           Yes About Conexant Conexant’s comprehensive portfolio of innovative semiconductor solutions includes products for Internet connectivity, digital imaging, and media processing applications. Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company that recorded revenues of $809 million in fiscal year 2007. The company is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. To learn more, please visit www.conexant.com. Safe Harbor Statement "Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release includes forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Conexant or its management "believes,” "expects,” "anticipates,” "foresees,” "forecasts,” "estimates” or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements in this release that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: pricing pressures and other competitive factors; our ability to timely develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for the related intellectual property; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by our products and our customers’ products; volatility in the technology sector and the semiconductor industry; our successful development of new products; the timing of our new product introductions and our product quality; demand for and market acceptance of our new and existing products; our ability to anticipate trends and develop products for which there will be market demand; the availability of manufacturing capacity; changes in our product mix; product obsolescence; the ability of our customers to manage inventory; the risk that capital needed for our business and to repay our indebtedness will not be available when needed; the risk that the value of our common stock may be adversely affected by market volatility; the substantial losses we have incurred; the uncertainties of litigation, including claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights or demands that we license third-party technology, and the demands it may place on the time and attention of our management and the expense it may place on our company; general economic and political conditions and conditions in the markets we address; and possible disruptions in commerce related to terrorist activity or armed conflict, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. 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