NETANYA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Siano, the world’s leading supplier of mobile broadcast DTV solutions, today announced the launch of SMS2160, a new multi-standard digital radio receiver chip designed for automotive and portable/mobile consumer electronics applications. The SMS2160 is the world’s most versatile digital radio IC to support T-DMB/DAB/DAB+, DRM+, and FM Radio, including RDS/TMC. The newly released chip is particularly addressed to the emerging markets of DAB+ in Europe, and DRM+ in Asia and around the globe.
The SMS2160 is the first chip of its kind to support 2-way antenna diversity (MRC) for DRM+, T-DMB/DAB/DAB+. DRM+ (the FM mode of the all-band Digital Radio Mondiale standard) is the digital open candidate for FM band radio when FM broadcasts start phasing out. An extension of the DRM digital radio broadcasting system, DRM+ works in frequency bands over 30 MHz (Band I, II and III), delivering enhanced audio quality and multimedia broadcasts. With DRM+’s growing popularity worldwide, especially in Asia and Latin America, Siano’s SMS2160 offers users in these regions exceptionally high sensitivity and mobility performance in a variety of mobile devices.
“We are excited about the prospects of a dedicated DRM+ receiver chip to potentially support India’s massive mobile device market,” said Ruxandra Obreja, DRM Consortium Chairman and President of the DRM Association. “The nationwide All India Radio (AIR) DRM Rollout Plan will support digital radio broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects, covering 92% of the country and reaching 99% of the population. Making Siano’s SMS2160 receiver chip available to the national effort open to public and commercial broadcasters will open new horizons for quality mobile broadcasts all over India.”
The SMS2160 is a highly integrated, small-size (5x5 mm) receiver chip with optional 2-way antenna diversity (MRC) and multiple frequency band support: VHF Band III (174-240 MHz), VHF Band I (47-88 MHz), VHF Band II (88-108 MHz), and L1-Band. Tailored to meet the challenging demands of automotive applications, the chip offers superior mobility algorithms and is environmentally friendly (RoHS and REACH compliant).
Samples of the SMS2160 are already in use by select Siano customers including Hirschmann Car Communication, one of the world’s leading suppliers of automobile communications and TV receivers. “The collaboration with Siano provides our customers with high value for their automotive infotainment applications,” said Thomas Adam, Head of Development at Hirschmann Car Communication. “This new Siano receiver chip delivers uncompromised performance and will allow us to expand our global customer base. This is the high level of quality and reliability we have come to depend on from Siano.”
Alon Ironi, CEO of Siano, comments, “The increased popularity of DRM+ technology translates into winning partnerships for Siano’s mobile digital TV solutions. Already having several customers such as Hirschmann Car Communication and others, we are confident that this new chip will lead the steadily growing DRM+ market.”
About DRM
Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) is the only universal, openly standardized digital broadcasting system for all broadcasting frequencies. The DRM standard comprises of two major configurations: ‘DRM30’ intended for broadcasts on short, medium and long wave up to 30 MHz and providing large coverage areas and low power consumption. The configuration for the VHF bands above 30 MHz is called ‘DRM+’, tailored for local and regional coverage with broadcaster-controlled transmissions. All DRM configurations share the same audio coding, data and multimedia services, service linking, multiplexing and signaling schemes. DRM provides high quality sound combined with a wealth of enhanced features: Surround Sound, Journaline text information, Slideshow, EPG, and data services. For more information and DRM updates please visit www.drm.org or subscribe to DRM news by writing to pressoffice@drm.org. Click here for the Newsletter with all the latest DRM news from around the world.
About Siano
Siano is the world’s leading supplier of mobile broadcast DTV solutions. Pioneers of the multi-standard approach, Siano provides high-performance and fast time-to-market digital TV solutions for mobile and consumer electronics, automotive and public transportation device makers and solution/service providers. Siano has close collaborations with global tier-1 makers of tablets, smartphones, car TVs, and electronic accessories such as Nokia, Huawei, ZTE, Sharp and others, as well as service providers including KDDI-au, Softbank, DStv Mobile, and the Mobile Content Venture in the U.S. Headquartered in Israel, Siano has offices in the U.S., China, Korea, and Japan. For more information, visit us at www.siano-ms.com.