Tymphany, Qualcomm Atheros Collaborate on Wireless Music Solutions

Helping many of these companies to deliver robust and reliable solutions are two companies that have years of experience in the fields of wireless and audio: Qualcomm Atheros and Tymphany. Back in mid-December, Qualcomm Atheros and Tymphany jointly announced they had entered into a collaborative agreement to develop a range of wireless speakers and other audio playback products. The two companies are also working together to educate the consumer and professional audio markets on the full potential of the collaboration.

Stressing the depth of expertise created by this union, Tom Jacoby, chairman and chief development officer for Tymphany, says that his company has been a leading provider of wireless audio solutions for the consumer and pro audio markets and interested parties can find the company’s technologies in use in some of today’s most popular products.

“Tymphany is committed to a strategy of integrating leading-edge digital technology with loudspeakers to address the future of smart, wireless, connected, multi-room audio devices. The Wi-Fi and digital media streaming technology provided by the Skifta Audio Module is the key to developing easy-to-use wireless and networked streaming products and meeting customer expectations in this emerging market,” Jacoby says. “As we’ve evaluated networked audio we see a paradigm shift with wireless and cloud technologies [becoming more popular] so we looked at a number of technology providers and identified the Skifta platform.”

The Skifta Audio Module Jacoby refers to is based on Qualcomm Atheros’ Wi-Fi system-on-chip technology that provides manufacturers with an easy-to-use and cost effective hardware and software solution. Gary Brotman, director of product marketing for Qualcomm Atheros, explains that since Qualcomm purchased Atheros its use within the consumer and pro audio industry has steadily increased.

“Qualcomm acquired Atheros in 2011 to complement its wireless solutions, and if you go to retail today you’ll see all of the major manufacturers using our silicon in their products,” notes Brotman.

During CES 2013, the two companies are demonstrating the Skifta Audio Module. Elaborating on the broad range of applications the collaboration can help address, Brotman says the Skifta Audio Module can be used for a variety of wireless audio products.

“Tymphany is an ideal audio rendering ODM for us to collaborate with to bring Skifta to the audio market. Tymphany has best-in-class original designs, existing relationships with top-tier brands, and the ability to work with non-traditional players, which may not possess the internal structure to develop these types of products,” boasts Brotman.

“This collaboration allows us to deploy Skifta in speakers, docks, soundbars and other audio products in a timely, cost effective manner, while achieving industry leading wireless audio performance.”