Frontier Silicon has signed a co-development agreement with Google.
This agreement will see the inclusion of Google’s Cast-for-Audio technology in Frontier’s next generation connected audio solutions – due to ship in the first half of 2016.
Cast-for-Audio is an online content delivery platform which allows users to stream music services, such as Deezer, Pandora and Google Play Music, directly from the cloud to Cast-enabled speakers – all controlled by the user’s mobile device.
The key advantage of the system is that it allows users of multiple music services to stream audio through any set of Cast-enabled speakers, without being tethered to the mobile device.
Cast-for-Audio uses the same technology which supports Google’s established Chromecast video streaming platform and is a key component of Google’s home media streaming strategy.
Frontier Silicon’s turnkey technology solution allows consumer audio brands to build connected audio devices, such as Wi-Fi speakers and soundbars, quickly and easily.
Reliance on in-house engineering teams is reduced and speed to market is improved. The inclusion of Cast-for-Audio in the company’s next generation solutions is a significant addition to its product portfolio.
The market for Wi-Fi connected audio devices is expected to grow nearly threefold in the next three years – from 14 million units in 2014 to 40 million in 2017. From 2016 onwards, a growing number of consumer audio brands will include Cast-for-Audio in their devices.
This agreement will enable Frontier Silicon to address this market directly.
Anthony Sethill, CEO of the Toumaz Group (parent of Frontier Silicon) said:
“Our co-development agreement with Google will provide a major boost to our connected audio business in 2016 and beyond. In recent months, we have benefited from strong market growth and achieved a number of important design wins for our existing connected audio platform – driving 60% growth in year to date sales. With the addition of Cast-for-Audio, we expect to drive this growth further.”