Bluetooth SIG Announces Auracast Broadcast Audio Capability

When the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association that oversees Bluetooth technology, announced the upcoming release of LE Audio at CES 2020, the new specification promised two major benefits: the new LC3 codec to provide higher audio quality with the same battery life, and Broadcast Audio, enabling personal and location-based Audio Sharing. Now the Bluetooth SIG announced a new consumer brand for what was previously known as Audio Sharing, now as Auracast broadcast audio.

There’s a lot happening in the true wireless stereo (TWS) category and this market update article intends to provide a quick overview of the state-of the-art technologies and platforms in the space, as well as some reference approaches in product design. This audioXpress Market Update addresses what is happening in this vibrant product category in 2021.

As audioXpress previously anticipated, French wireless audio pioneer Tempow has been developing a new technology approach to bring next-generation True Wireless Stereo (TWS) to the Bluetooth earbud mass market. Tempow's hardware-agnostic solution lets any smartphone manufacturer create wireless earbuds with near-zero latency, increased battery, and high fidelity, in alternative to proprietary or non-standard Bluetooth solutions.

CEVA, the leading licensor of signal processing platforms for connected devices, along with French wireless audio pioneer Tempow, unveiled a collaboration to bring next-generation True Wireless Stereo (TWS) to the Bluetooth earbud mass market. As mentioned in a recent article by CEVA's Marketing Director, Franz Dugand, the resulting joint IP solution delivers synchronized left/right audio over standard Bluetooth dual mode connected links with short latency and without the power consumption penalty associated with many of today’s TWS implementations.