Qualcomm Introduces Smart Speaker and USB-C Audio Products

Qualcomm introduced a new Qualcomm Smart Audio Platform to help manufacturers accelerate the development and commercialization of smart and networked speakers. Qualcomm Introduces Smart Speaker and USB-C Audio Products at its voice and music developer conference in Shenzhen.  The company offers two SoC options based on Qualcomm’s APQ8009 and APQ8017, with a range of software configurations for OEMs.

Qualcomm Introduces Smart Speaker and USB-C Audio Products

The integrated high-quality performance voice solution is designed to deliver advanced multi-mic far-field voice capability with highly responsive voice activation. The platform’s voice software also incorporates echo-cancellation, noise suppression and “barge-in” capability, supporting a reliable voice interface in loud or noisy environments even when users are far from the smart speaker.

“The Qualcomm Smart Audio Platform combines high-performance processing power, world-class Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, advanced far-field voice capture and wake-word detection, AllPlay multi-room audio streaming technology, and support for major voice ecosystems in a single solution”

said Anthony Murray, senior vice president and general manager, voice and music, Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd.

“This platform is ideal for traditional speaker manufacturers wanting to make the move to a connected platform as it is designed to bring together all the necessary hardware, software and tools needed to reduce development time. It also offers a great degree of flexibility for those manufacturers who want to push the boundaries when it comes to possible future applications for smart speakers.”

Qualcomm’s AllPlay multi-room audio technology supports whole-home audio music streaming. Speakers can be configured to play synchronized music across multiple rooms, different music in multiple speaker zones, and multi-channel wireless surround sound to multiple speakers in the same room. Consumers can play music from streaming music services including Hi-Res 32-bit/192kHz content, local music libraries on mobile phones, or DLNA media servers. Moreover, the new platform supports Qualcomm aptX HD audio technology, which is designed to deliver 24-bit high-definition wireless audio over Bluetooth.

Source: Qualcomm