CSR Licenses aptX® Low Latency Codec to Mad Catz® for New Family of Bluetooth® Wireless Gaming Headsets

BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announced that Mad Catz Interactive (NYSE MKT: MCZ) has signed a multi-year licensing agreement to use the CSR aptX® Low Latency audio codec, expected to feature in a new family of ‘GameSmart’ headsets that Mad Catz plans to introduce in the coming months. The new headsets are expected to break the barrier between the wireless audio and gaming worlds, enabling consumers to use one headset that works equally well whether using their tablets, smartphones, laptops or other Bluetooth-equipped devices to play action games, listen to their favourite music or watch movies and videos.

“The aptX technology allows us to deliver realistic, interactive, action-synchronised sound when gaming by eliminating the audio sync issue, while providing high-quality stereo audio over Bluetooth.”

“This breakthrough CSR aptX technology is enabling us to create a new category of high-performance GameSmart wireless headsets that we know will deliver audiophile sound for games and audio alike,” said Darren Richardson, Mad Catz CEO and President. “The aptX technology allows us to deliver realistic, interactive, action-synchronised sound when gaming by eliminating the audio sync issue, while providing high-quality stereo audio over Bluetooth.”

High-quality Bluetooth audio has an inherent latency of more than 150 ms. While this can be compensated for in various ways to ensure that the lips match the speech when watching a movie, where this delay is constant, the gun shots, bomb blasts and other intermittent and unpredictable sound effects in gaming environments make this kind of compensation unfeasible. For action-synchronised sound when gaming, this delay must be less than the 40 ms recommended for audio-video (AV) applications. CSR aptX Low Latency for Bluetooth reduces the latency to just 32 ms, which is well under this limit.

“We welcome Mad Catz into the aptX ecosystem, and congratulate them for their vision and innovation in being first to recognise and fulfill the need for this new breed of wireless headsets,” said Jonny McClintock, Director of aptX Sales and Marketing at CSR. “With more and more people using their smartphones and tablets to play games, in addition to other more traditional audiovisual entertainment, many of them will be turning to high-performance wireless headsets, like those Mad Catz will be introducing, that can work equally well for high-fidelity stereo audio and gaming applications.”

Although standard Bluetooth technology can be used to stream stereo audio wirelessly from mobile handsets, tablets and other audio entertainment devices to headphones, headsets and speakers, its inherent delay is not suitable for video or gaming applications. CSR aptX Low Latency technology is designed to solve this problem as well as delivering superior CD-quality audio, enabling Bluetooth to be used for a variety of audio-visual (AV) and gaming applications.

Visit CSR at Mobile World Congress 2013

CSR is exhibiting an exciting range of platform solutions for Voice & Music, Bluetooth Smart and Indoor Location at the CSR booth [Hall 6, Stand 6D35] at Mobile World Congress 2013. To book a meeting or demonstration with CSR at Mobile World Congress please email external.communications@csr.com

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About Mad Catz

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT: MCZ) is a global provider of innovative interactive entertainment products marketed under its Mad Catz® (gaming), Tritton® (audio), and Saitek® (simulation) brands. Mad Catz also develops flight simulation software through its internal ThunderHawk Studios™; operates flight simulation centers under its Saitek brand; publishes games under its Mad Catz brand; and distributes games and videogame products for third parties. For additional information please go to http://www.madcatz.com

About CSR

CSR is a global provider of innovative silicon and software solutions for the location-aware, media-rich, cloud-connected world. Our platforms are optimised for the automotive navigation and infotainment, digital cameras and imaging, connected home infotainment and wireless audio markets. We provide solutions to complex problems in the audio-visual, connectivity and location technology domains across a broad range of markets, with a technology portfolio that includes GPS/GNSS systems, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, FM, NFC, aptX® and CVC™ audio codecs, JPEG, MPEG, H.264 imaging, PDL printing, microcontrollers, DSPs and broadband receivers. CSR's technology solutions and market platforms enable its customers to deliver a superior user experience and are adopted by leaders in the auto, computer, home and mobile markets. More information can be found at www.csr.com. Keep up to date with CSR on our technical blog or CSR people blog, YouTube, Facebook or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CSR_plc.

CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain statements (including statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations or performance, or assumptions related thereto) that are not historical facts and constitute ‘forward looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 in relation to CSR aptX® Low Latency audio codec, , and their performance characteristics in Mad Catz’ GameSmart headsets and other consumer electronic products, and other future events and their potential effects on CSR. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as ‘will,’ ‘can deliver,’ offers', 'allows', 'to enhance,’ ‘enables,’ 'designed to' and other similar expressions regarding the performance characteristics of CSR aptX® Low Latency audio codec, and their performance characteristics in consumer electronics products, and their potential effects on CSR. Any future release of CSR aptX® Low Latency audio codec or consumer electronics products containing such technology, related products or modifications to such products’ capability, functionality or features are subject to ongoing evaluation by CSR and its customers, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by CSR or its customers and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. Such forward-looking statements represent the current expectations and beliefs of management of CSR, and are based upon numerous assumptions regarding CSR’s business strategies and the environment in which CSR will operate and therefore involve a number of known and unknown risks, contingencies, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of CSR, including, but not limited to, those detailed from time to time in CSR’s periodic reports (whether under the caption Risk Factors or Forward Looking Statements or elsewhere), which are available at the SEC’s web site http://www.sec.gov. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof. CSR does not undertake to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein, otherwise than required by law.

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