14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, February 11, CSR officially announced the launch of Synergy for Android, a new version of its successful wireless system software. This multi-radio, complete plug-and-play software platform offers Android-handset users advanced connectivity capabilities, also enabling OEMs to develop multiple types of handsets capable of supporting more advanced features than the standard Android platform. Synergy will be available on multiple tier-one handsets, one of the first being a smartphone from the Japanese vendor Sharp.
"Android is growing in popularity and is set to be one of the most dominant operating systems in the next generation of smart phones," Raj Gawera, vice president of Marketing for CSR's Handset Business Unit, commented. "The recent launch of Google's Nexus One has set a very high standard in terms of features and performance within the developing Android handset market. However it has also opened the door to a whole new range of handsets with enhanced connectivity and location capabilities. By using CSR's Synergy for Android platform these phones will be easy to develop and deliver the best user experience."
First introduced in February 2009, Synergy was at that time the first multi-radio connectivity software capable of supporting all wireless technologies in CSR's Connectivity Centre. The new version for Android also offers support for Bluetooth, GPS, FM and Wi-Fi. Synergy offers a much simpler integration of multiple wireless technologies, reducing development costs by supplying everything from drivers to add-ons for Android.
Synergy includes Bluetooth v3.0+HS (High Speed) support, a feature that allows users to make large file transfers between devices, as well as new technologies like Wi-Fi Direct. Android-based handsets that include Synergy can also benefit from the multiple uses of the Bluetooth technology with CSR's proprietary Proximity Pairing technology, file sharing using BIP and FTP profiles or wireless printing via the BPP profile.
CSR is one of the members of the Open Handset Alliance, a group of companies working together in pushing the Android platform forward. Synergy for Android is already available, and is being designed into a variety of tier-one phones, as well as other electronics devices. CSR will be present at the Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain between 15-18 February.