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Lucent Introduces Breakthrough Chip That Makes Cellular
Calls More Understandable In Noisy Environments
PRNewswire
Chip Uses SRS Labs' Voice Intelligibility
Processor(TM) (VIP) Technology
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ --
Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group
today announced a chip using the Voice
Intelligibility Processor(TM) (VIP) technology from [ SRS Labs, Inc. ] ,
(Nasdaq: SRSL) that makes cellular phone callers more understandable in
noisy environments such as airports, restaurants and trade show floors.
The breakthrough chip, called EVRC+, is based on Lucent's widely
deployed Enhanced Variable Rate Codec (EVRC) technology plus the
patented VIP technology. EVRC+ marks the first time a VIP-based
technology solution has been made available to manufacturers in the
telecommunications market. EVRC is voice encoding and decoding
technology that increases wireless network capacity without sacrificing voice
quality.
EVRC+ also integrates Lucent's ClearEVRC technology into the chip, which
helps suppress noisy tones possible under low signal conditions in EVRC-
equipped cellular phones. Lucent is introducing its EVRC+ solution at this
week's Wireless '99 event in New Orleans (February 8-10, Lucent
Technologies Microelectronics Group, Hall F, Booth #5533).
VIP, which has its origins in the airline industry where noise problems are so
pervasive, operates on the voice itself, processing those portions of the voice
signals that the brain uses for cognition. This means cellular phone
manufacturers can avoid adding complicated noise management schemes to
their phones, thereby lowering the number of components necessary and
enabling smaller, more cost-effective products.
"The combination of Lucent's communications expertise and our robust VIP
technology provides an ideal voice solution for manufacturers of cellular
phones worldwide," said Tom Yuen, chairman and CEO of SRS Labs.
"Lucent's innovative EVRC+ allows cell phone manufacturers to bring the
benefits of VIP to their customers. Now, with the push of one button, any
cell phone user can understand the caller, regardless of the noise level of
their environment, whether it is a busy street, crowded airport, or train
station."
EVRC+ is a substantially upgraded version of the EVRC technology Lucent
introduced in 1997, which has been deployed in more than 6 million Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular phones. More than 98 percent of
Korea's EVRC-based Cellular CDMA phones are equipped with Lucent's
EVRC technology.
Lucent, which pioneered EVRC technology, has already sold its previous
versions of EVRC technology to several companies including three in Korea:
[ Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ] , LG Information & Communications, Ltd.
(LGIC), and Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
EVRC+ can be rapidly deployed in CDMA cellular phones because it is
pin- compatible with Lucent's popular EVRC chip introduced in 1997.
"Lucent's initial EVRC solutions enabled our customers to rapidly introduce
EVRC-based cellular phones," said Denis Regimbal, wireless marketing
director with Lucent's Microelectronics Group. "Now EVRC+ has those
same time-to-market benefits coupled with the advantages of VIP and
clarity of ClearEVRC. This allows manufacturers to quickly introduce
exciting new phones with better performance."
Samples of EVRC+ are scheduled to be available in this year's second
quarter. Production quantities are expected to be available in the third
quarter. The device is priced at $50 in sample quantities.
Lucent's Microelectronics Group designs and manufactures integrated
circuits and optoelectronic components for the computer and
communications industries. More information about the Microelectronics
Group is available from its Web site at www.lucent.com/micro.
Lucent Technologies designs, builds, and delivers a wide range of public and
private networks, communication systems and software, data networking
systems, business telephone systems and microelectronics components. Bell
Labs is the research and development arm for the company. For more
information on Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J.,
USA, visit its web site at lucent.com.
SRS Labs is the world's leading provider of audio and voice enhancement
technology solutions. SRS Labs' business consists of licensing audio and
voice technologies to manufacturers of consumer electronics, computer,
gaming, and telecommunications equipment; the design of custom
Application Specific Integrated Circuits for consumer electronics, game,
telecommunications and personal computer manufacturers; the distribution of
components, chips and assembly systems for the China and Hong Kong
markets; and the manufacturing and marketing of home theater and game
products for the Asian consumer marketplace. For more information on
SRS Labs' technologies, the company's worldwide licensing program, or its
design and manufacturing capabilities, visit the SRS Labs web site at
srslabs.com.
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