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Coding Technologies, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic) and NEC Partner to bring MPEG-4 aacPlus to More Mobile and Portable Device Applications
Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 12, 2002 - (JCN Newswire) - (and Mountain View, CA)
Coding Technologies, Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic), and NEC
announced today that the three companies have introduced a new low-power
decoder version for the upcoming MPEG-4 AAC-plus-SBR (aacPlus) standard,
which achieves CD-quality audio at low bitrates. Requiring 40% less
processing power, this low-power SBR decoding method is officially
recognized by MPEG and is bitstream compliant with the MPEG-4 aacPlus
standard. The availability of both low-power and high-quality MPEG-4
aacPlus implementations enables the standard to run on the widest possible
range of processors for mobile and portable device applications. Such a
range is critical in the adoption of MPEG-4 aacPlus in 2.5G and 3G audio
distribution markets.
"The work of Panasonic, NEC and Coding Technologies has significantly
increased the reach of aacPlus," said Martin Dietz, President and CEO of
Coding Technologies. "Although processor power is increasing rapidly,
power consumption is still a key factor in mobile markets. The efficiency
afforded by low-power aacPlus will give an early boost to the new
standard."
"Since it works with any codec, we see SBR as a very important technology
going forward," said Hiroshi Nishikawa, Director, Multimedia Development
Center, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. "Since this decoder
implementation of SBR requires less computational resources, the MPEG-4
standard can be deployed on more entertainment services including digital
broadcasting."
"The mobile market relies on open standards," said Dr. Takao Nishitani,
General Manager, Multimedia Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation.
"Low-power is always the key to mobile and portable device markets. This
low-power SBR standard paves the way for these markets such as network
audio distribution, digital broadcasting services, and silicon players."
Technology and intellectual property for low-power SBR was contributed by
all three companies. Coding Technologies is the licensing agent for
low-power SBR in aacPlus, creating a one-stop-shop for SBR patents and
software in MPEG-4.
aacPlus is the combination of MPEG AAC and Coding Technologies' SBR
(Spectral Band Replication) technology. SBR is a unique bandwidth
extension technique, which enables audio codecs to deliver the same
quality at half the bit rate. SBR is a backward and forward compatible
method to enhance the efficiency of any audio codec; putting the "PRO" in
mp3PRO and the "Plus" in aacPlus As a result, aacPlus delivers streaming
and download CD-quality stereo at 48 kbps and excellent quality stereo at
32 kbps. This level of efficiency fundamentally enables new applications
in the markets of mobile and digital broadcast. aacPlus is on track to
become a core component of MPEG-4 Audio.
About Coding Technologies
Coding Technologies provides the best audio compression for mobile,
broadcasting, and Internet. SBR(tm) (Spectral Band Replication) from
Coding Technologies is a backward and forward compatible method to enhance
the efficiency of any audio codec; putting the "PRO" in mp3PRO and the
"Plus" in aacPlus. SBR is a fundamental enabler of the Digital Radio
Mondiale open standard and is on track to become a core component of
MPEG-4 Audio. Coding Technologies is a privately held company with offices
in Sweden, Germany, and Silicon Valley. Founded in 1997 in Stockholm, the
company later merged with a spin-off of the renowned Fraunhofer Institute
in Germany, the inventor of MP3. Coding Technologies customers include XM
Radio, Thomson Multimedia, Musicmatch, and Texas Instruments. For more
information, visit www.codingtechnologies.com.
About Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (6752), best known for its
Panasonic, National, Technics, and Quasar brands, is a worldwide leader in
the development and manufacture of electronics products for a wide range
of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the
company recorded consolidated sales of US$51.70 billion for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2002. In addition to stock exchanges in Tokyo (TSE:
6752) and elsewhere in Japan, Matsushita's shares are listed on the
Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, New York (NYSE: MC), Pacific, and Paris
stock exchanges.
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.1) (TSE: 6701) is one of the
world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and
enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs
of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the
world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored
solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices,
through its three market-focused, in-house companies: NEC Solutions, NEC
Networks and NEC Electron Devices. NEC Corporation employs more than
140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of approximately $39 billion in
the fiscal year ended March 2002.
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