TI and RadioScape to Provide Technology for Emerging Digital Radio Mondiale

TI and RadioScape to Provide Technology for Emerging Digital Radio Mondiale

Companies Commit to Develop an Integrated Hardware and Software Platform for Designing Cost-Effective DRM Receivers

DALLAS, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on its leadership in digital radio technology, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE:TXN) (TI) is working with RadioScape to develop the necessary hardware and software to support Digital Radio Mondiale(TM) (DRM(TM)). Leveraging its vast technical expertise in Eureka Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) technology, TI will supply the necessary digital signal processor (DSP)-based digital radio silicon along with RadioScape's software radio technology. Together these companies will offer a cost-effective platform for designing consumer receivers. (See http://www.ti.com/dr12 .)

"Today's announcement from Texas Instruments and RadioScape regarding their new DRM technology is a major milestone for the DRM consortium," said Peter Senger, director of distribution at Deutsche Welle and chairman of the DRM Consortium. "Coupling TI's position as a global leader in the semiconductor industry with RadioScape's expertise in digital radio software brings invaluable resources to the DRM market. We believe their commitment to DRM will help drive its commercial success in the coming years -- repeating their success at driving the DAB market by enabling a wide variety of receivers to be made at easily affordable prices."

DRM is the only universal, non-proprietary digital AM radio system for short-wave, medium-wave and long-wave with near-FM quality sound available to markets worldwide. By exploiting the reach of these frequencies, DRM complements DAB to provide digital reception anywhere in the world. This capability enables broadcasters to launch exciting new services and allows listeners to hear their favorite short-wave, medium-wave/AM or long-wave broadcasts with considerably improved quality. More than 65 leading broadcasters have begun transmitting live, daily or weekly DRM broadcasts and special programs. The list includes international broadcasters as well as national radio networks and local radio stations -- both commercial and public. Combining DAB and DRM into new receivers will extend the range of digital stations and services available, even further enabling broadcasters to reach new audiences with innovative digital services anywhere in the world.

"We know what it takes to succeed in an emerging digital radio market," says Les Mable, business development manager for Digital Radio at TI. "TI is committed to the promising new DRM market and will leverage our expertise to help provide the innovation required to speed its rapid adoption. The use of RadioScape's software-defined radio solutions will allow a single cost- effective hardware platform to receive DRM, DAB, FM and AM broadcasts."

Nigel Oakley, RadioScape's VP of Marketing, adds, "RadioScape's unique software approach provides the flexibility that customers require, especially for an emerging technology. New features, customized variants and changes in standards can all be easily done via our software running on TI's programmable solution, unlike an ASIC chip that requires slow and expensive mask re-spins. Our experience in creating innovative DAB software solutions has made RadioScape one of the world leaders in Software-Defined Digital Radio and will enable us to create a similar success for DRM."

Formed in 1998, the DRM Consortium has defined a universal, non- proprietary digital system for providing near-FM quality sound on the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. With members in more than 25 nations, DRM has wide support from broadcasters. Applications include fixed and portable radios, car receivers, software receivers and PDAs. With some broadcasters already on air, the initial deployment of receivers is expected to start in the UK, Germany and France.

DRM enables a single tower to broadcast over a huge geographic area, so listeners all over Europe can receive the same station. DRM is expected to drive expansion of the under-30 MHz radio market, bringing new content to larger audiences while fitting within the current broadcast band plan. Many existing transmitters can be easily modified with an inexpensive upgrade to carry DRM signals.

For more information on Digital Radio Mondiale, visit http://www.drm.org/ . For more information on RadioScape, visit http://www.radioscape.com/ .

Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010105/NEF016LOGO
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Source: Texas Instruments Incorporated; RadioScape

CONTACT: Stephanie Groswirt of Texas Instruments Incorporated,
+1-214-480-2512, or s-groswirt@ti.com ; or Malcolm Clark of Malcolm Clark
Const., +44-0-1798-839-546, or info@malcolmclark.co.uk ; or Nigel Robson of
Vortex PR, +44-0-1481-233080, or nigel@vortexpr.com . Please do not publish
these numbers or email addresses.

Web site: http://www.ti.com/
http://www.ti.com/dr12
http://www.drm.org/
http://www.radioscape.com/


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