Frontier Silicon launches new Network Audio module with iPhone 5 docking at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Frontier Silicon, the leading supplier of Digital Radio and Network Audio technology, today announces the launch of Venice 6.5, its most cost-effective module for network audio devices.

“And we have managed to do so while reducing the cost of our product.”

Venice 6.5 (FS2026-5) builds on the success of Frontier´s Venice range of digital audio modules, offering best-in-class performance in network audio and broadcast radio. Designed around Chorus 3, Frontier’s latest system-on-chip (SoC), Venice 6.5 also represents a leap forward in terms of functionality. Following the launch by Apple last month, the module supports iPhone 5 docking using the new Lightning connector. The new Wi-Fi^® interface supports the 802.11n standard in dual 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies, improving transmission speeds and making it more resilient to interference from other home appliances.

Venice 6.5 enables a wide range of products with its extensive and customisable feature set, including:

802.11a/b/g/n, dual band Wi-Fi^® Alliance compliant interface with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) support
Ethernet 10/100 connectivity on board
DLNA 1.5 and UPnP compliant media player and renderer
Fully digital iPhone and iPad dock, including support for iPhone 5
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed for playback of music files
Internet radio for live and “listen again” content
DAB, DAB+ and FM radio
Multiple language user interface with alarms and sleep timers.

As with other Frontier solutions, Venice 6.5 is fully compatible with the Frontier remote control apps for iOS and Android, enhancing the user experience with artwork from album covers, station logos and RadioVIS slides.

“With Venice 6.5 we have achieved a solution that satisfies the demands of our customers in applications ranging from portable speakers to hi-fi AV receivers” said Prem Rajalingham, VP of Sales & Support at Frontier Silicon. “And we have managed to do so while reducing the cost of our product.”

System designers can choose to use Venice 6.5 in standalone network devices or slave to another processor, using Frontier’s FSAPI communications interface. The module is supplied with full host-side reference source code and compliance test suites to ensure the quickest time-to-market.

Venice 6.5 will be introduced at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair 2012 Autumn Edition, and the first models from selected partners will be in production later this year.

About Frontier Silicon Limited

Frontier Silicon is the world’s leading supplier of integrated circuits and modules for digital radio and network audio products. In August 2012, the company was acquired by Toumaz Limited and is now part of an enlarged group focused on the digital audio, consumer sports & fitness and professional healthcare markets.

The group is headquartered in London, England, with design centres in Abingdon, Cambridge and Shannon. The company also has sales and technical support teams in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Germany, France and Japan.

Frontier Silicon’s audio products offer solutions for DAB/DAB+, Internet radio and connected audio - from silicon through software to production-ready platform designs.

Customers supplied by Frontier Silicon include Bang & Olufsen, Bose, Bush, Cyrus, Denon, Dual, Gear4, Goodmans, Grundig, harman/kardon, Hitachi, JVC, Magic Box, Ministry of Sound, NAD, Onkyo, Panasonic, Philips, Pinell, Pioneer, Pure, Revo, Roberts, Ruark Audio, Sangean, Sanyo, Sharp, SIRIUS XM, Sony, TEAC, Tivoli Audio and Yamaha.

Frontier Silicon is a trademark or registered trademark of Frontier Silicon Ltd.

Apple, iOS, iPhone, iPad and Lightning are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.