Frontier Silicon launches break-through automotive DAB solution at IFA 2013

IFA 2013: Lindau 4, Meeting Bridge A, Mezzanine 1, between Halls 2 and 7a

Frontier Silicon, the leading supplier of digital radio and connected audio technology, part of the Toumaz Group (TMZ.L), today announces the launch of AUTODAB 2.0, a breakthrough DAB/DAB+ radio solution for automotive aftermarket applications. Radio listening in cars forms a large percentage of overall radio listening and provision for this sector will be an important consideration in the UK Government’s decisions on radio DSO (Digital Switch Over).

Digital radio on the move is a challenge. Services go out of range, local stations change and tunnels interrupt reception. With AUTODAB 2.0, Frontier has drawn on a wealth of experience gained in developing class-leading products for the consumer market to provide an innovative low-cost solution for this difficult environment.

Existing automotive DAB/DAB+ solutions employ dual tuners to simultaneously search for alternative signal sources while listening to a station. If the current station signal is lost the radio can switch to an alternative, presenting a seamless experience to the user. Developed from Frontier’s AUTODAB 1.0 our latest technology (patent pending) performs the same task using only a single DAB tuner, significantly reducing cost and complexity.

Features and benefits of AUTODAB 2.0:

• AUTODAB 2.0 - constantly updates available services as a background task without the need for dual tuners
• Service following – automatically maintains a selected station across different DAB regions or after interruption to reception.
• Intelligent pre-sets – maintains your favourite stations across DAB regions
• Seek – allows fast selection of new stations with minimum driver distraction
• DL Plus – supports enhanced text services
• Data out – provides embedded DAB service data such as EPG and TPEG
• Audio concealment - masks audio break-up in poor reception areas
• Purpose built test and development tools – reduces risk and time to market

"AUTODAB 2.0 represents a significant opportunity for our partners to lower the cost of entry for digital radio in cars, whilst significantly improving performance & user satisfaction” said Jim Nicholas, VP of Marketing at Frontier Silicon. "It enables a new breed of automotive aftermarket solutions to support the rapid adoption of digital radio in cars.”

Graham Johnson, Business Development Manager at Connects2, a leading manufacturer of car audio accessories said "AUTODAB 2.0 is impressive, to enable a single tuner radio to provide such an integrated automotive experience is a major feat of engineering.”

AUTODAB 2.0 is available now and runs on Frontier Silicon’s Venice 7A automotive module or Kino 3 and Apollo 2 chipset. Development tools including AUTODRIVE 2.0 and a choice of hardware test platforms can be provided on request.

AUTODAB 2.0 will be presented in Frontier Silicon’s demo room this week at IFA. To see a demo or find out more, please book a demonstration at www.frontier-silicon.com/events or contact your Frontier Silicon representative.

About Frontier Silicon Limited

Frontier Silicon is the world’s leading supplier of integrated circuits and modules for digital radio and connected audio products. Frontier Silicon is part of the Toumaz Group, which focuses on the digital audio, consumer sports & fitness and professional healthcare markets.

The group is headquartered in London, England, with design centres in Oxford, Cambridge and Romania. The company also has sales and technical support teams in Hong Kong, China, and Japan.

Frontier Silicon’s audio products offer solutions for DAB/DAB+, Internet radio and connected audio - from silicon through software to production-ready platform designs.

Customers supplied by Frontier Silicon include Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Bush, Connects2, Creative, Denon, Dual, Grundig, harman/kardon, Hitachi, JVC, LG, Magic Box, Medion, NAD, Onkyo, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Pure, Revo, Roberts, Ruark Audio, Sangean, Sanyo, Sharp, SIRIUS XM, Sony, TEAC, TechniSat, Tivoli Audio and Yamaha.

Frontier Silicon is a trademark or registered trademark of Frontier Silicon Ltd.