Based on Qualcomm family of Bluetooth audio chips (QCC5100-series), the company says the reference design includes virtually all the key hardware and software required for manufacturers to help them develop advanced Bluetooth headsets more efficiently and cost-effectively. In addition to support for Alexa, the solution also supports ultra-low power consumption for extended playback time and battery life, as well as Qualcomm cVc noise reduction technology designed for superior audio and voice service capabilities. Manufacturers can also add support for active noise cancellation and Qualcomm aptX HD high-resolution wireless audio.
The Qualcomm Smart Headset Development Kit is the first Bluetooth Smart Headset reference design built with support for the Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit, a protocol that runs over Bluetooth, and is designed to allow users to easily connect Bluetooth-enabled audio devices with Alexa via the Alexa app. This means device makers no longer need to oversee the bulk of coding for their Alexa integration or to add any communication hardware beyond Bluetooth, which helps to reduce cost and accelerates development time.
“Our consumer research shows that four out of five consumers have embraced voice services, but the vast majority are also looking for superb audio quality. The Qualcomm Smart Headset reference design brings this and more together, helping consumers to take advantage of Alexa on-the-go, without the need to interact with their phone,” said Anthony Murray, senior vice president and general manager, voice & music, Qualcomm.
The QCC5100-series SoC architecture is designed to deliver low-power consumption and optimised to ensure longer audio playback time for both voice calls and music streaming. A dedicated application processor sub-system, dual DSP architecture and next-generation audio development kit software provide a powerful foundation for the development of highly differentiated audio products. The SoC family is also engineered to support concurrent software operation, meaning that users can transition smoothly between functions such as listening to music, making calls, running biometric sensors and using voice services. Qualcomm cVc noise reduction technology helps to deliver accurate speech recognition even in very challenging acoustic environments, as well as to provide crisp voice communication for both parties in a phone call.
The Qualcomm Smart Headset reference design with Alexa is available now. Customers can use the reference design to help them evaluate building Alexa on-the-go experiences and can step up and begin development with a suite of software and tools to customise or develop their own headset products. For more information and to get started building with Qualcomm, click here.