Listen Technologies and Ampetronic Promote Auracast Assistive Listening Solutions at ISE 2024

Listen Technologies, a provider of advanced wireless listening solutions for 25 years, working with audio induction loop systems specialist Ampetronic, demonstrated a complete assistive listening system using Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast broadcast technology at the ISE 2024 show in Barcelona. The two companies, in direct cooperation with the Bluetooth SIG, hosted a press conference to preview and promote the solution, which is expected to generate a new significant opportunity for system integrators.

In 2022, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced the Auracast extension of the Bluetooth LE Audio specifications, combining audio sharing and broadcast audio into a new term that would make it easier to promote. The audio innovation promises to propel audio streaming forward by letting users share their audio or select from publicly available Auracast wireless audio streams. At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in Barcelona the technology was demonstrated in a practical manner for the very first time.

Following the publication of the full set of LE Audio specifications by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the industry is now putting together the building blocks that will enabling bringing products supporting the next generation of Bluetooth audio to market. This article explains what is needed and how to support Auracast broadcast audio, a new Bluetooth capability that enables an audio transmitter to broadcast to an unlimited number of nearby Bluetooth audio receivers.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association that oversees Bluetooth technology, announced the completion of the full set of specifications that define LE Audio, the next generation of Bluetooth audio - originally announced in January 2020. The release of this set of specifications will finally enable manufacturers to design and release products supporting the full scope of improvements promised for the next-generation Bluetooth audio, including Auracast broadcast audio.

Packetcraft, the wireless software licensor, announced that its Bluetooth LE Audio software achieved qualification from the Bluetooth SIG enabling developers to quickly refresh products with support for audio sharing, including the recently announced Auracast broadcast audio. The company is already providing commercial licensees with Bluetooth SIG qualified LE Audio software supporting the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Generic Audio Framework specifications.

CEVA announced that its latest RivieraWaves Bluetooth 5.3 IP family now supports Auracast broadcast audio, the new audio sharing standard, based on the Bluetooth LE Audio broadcasting specification, unveiled by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). According to CEVA, Auracast broadcast audio is set to transform the shared audio experience, enabling an unlimited number of Auracast receiver-compliant devices such as TWS earbuds, headphones, hearing aids and wireless speakers to simultaneously receive audio broadcast from one or several Auracast transmitter devices.

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.

At CES 2020, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) announced the upcoming release of LE Audio, the next generation of Bluetooth audio. Two years on the making, Bluetooth LE Audio will enhance the performance of wireless audio, add support for hearing aids, and introduce Audio Sharing, a new use case with the potential to once again change the way we experience audio and connect with the world around us as Bluetooth did when it cut the cord 20 years ago to create the wireless audio market.