3GPP Selects MPEG-4 aacPlus from Coding Technologies for Mobile Audio and Multimedia Services
Standardization establishes aacPlus as common denominator codec
between mobile music download, digital broadcasting, consumer
electronics and Internet streaming
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. & NUREMBERG, Germany—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 29, 2004—
Coding Technologies, the leading provider of audio compression for
mobile communications, consumer electronics and content distribution,
announced today that its aacPlus audio codec has been standardized by
3GPP as the codec for high quality content delivery. The
standardization by 3GPP is a clear sign for service operators, content
providers and handset manufacturers as they can now rely on a single
open standard technology for high quality audio services. By providing
highest audio quality at lowest possible bit rates, aacPlus is the key
enabler for the profitability of new services like mobile streaming or
download, protecting investments in these new services on a high
level.
As the most efficient audio codec worldwide, aacPlus is
established in all market segments as the common denominator codec,
paving the way for the long-awaited convergence between digital
broadcasting, mobile and Internet streaming. Already in use for music
download services of O2 or Vodafone, aacPlus is widely adopted in
digital broadcasting and Internet streaming applications.
"The selection of aacPlus by 3GPP was the logical conclusion of
what became apparent in the market," said Oliver Kunz, Vice President
Strategic Marketing, Coding Technologies. "Early adopters like O2 who
are already running innovative new service incorporating aacPlus have
clearly recognized the value of this technology for their business."
"As the first operator offering mobile music downloads, we are
very happy about the final standardization," adds Richard Poston,
Director Corporate Communications, mmO2. "We've been really impressed
by the excellent balance of good audio quality combined with efficient
use of bandwidth."
"Efficient delivery of audio tracks is critical to our business,"
said Bill Valenti, CEO of Melodeo. "With the broad adoption of aacPlus
through 3GPP, Melodeo can now deliver high fidelity-quality songs
directly to mobile phones in a file size as low as 500kb per song."
"Full-length Music downloading have been showcased as the ideal
applications for 2.5 and 3G infrastructure, and aacPlus is the perfect
fit," adds Guillaume Decugis, COO of Musiwave. "aacPlus was the key to
successfully launching our commercial Download solutions and services.
We got tremendous feedback from our launched customers like Vodafone
and will continue to use aacPlus for our coming new service launches."
Said Michael Bornhausser, CEO of SDC: "As an early adopter of
aacPlus for our customers O2, Vodafone D2 and Siemens mobile, we are
very happy about the standardization of this technology in 3GPP. It
clearly shows that aacPlus is the first choice audio codec for our
market leading SDC mobile DRM technology. Being part of the
international standard paves the way for music services to be the next
big hit in mobile communications."
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. Parametric
Stereo from Coding Technologies and Philips again significantly
increases the efficiency of audio codecs for stereo signals at low bit
rates. Products from Coding Technologies are fundamental enablers of
open standards such as MPEG, Digital Radio Mondiale, HD Radio, and the
DVD Forum.
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 America Online, iBiquity Digital, mmO2, Nokia,
RealNetworks, SK Telecom, Thomson, Texas Instruments, Vodafone, and XM
Satellite Radio.
About O2
O2 aims to enrich customer's lives by enabling them to get the
most from their mobile. As a leading provider of mobile services to
consumers and businesses in the UK, O2 offers a range of services
including text, media messaging, games, always on data connections
(via "GPRS"), music over mobile and mobile video. O2 is the UK market
leader in mobile data services such as text, with three quarters of a
billion messages being sent by O2 customers each month.
O2 was formed in 2001 following the demerger from British Telecom
of its former mobile business, BT Wireless. O2 (UK) Limited is a
subsidiary of mmO2 plc which also delivers O2 branded services in
Ireland and Germany. O2 has over 13.5 million customers in the UK.
Melodeo
Melodeo is a Seattle-based mobile music technology company that
has developed a highly innovative client/server solution for
delivering full length music tracks over-the-air to mobile phones, in
collaboration with wireless operators. Melodeo's technology,
incorporating aacPlus, will be launching via numerous carriers in
Europe and the US during in 2004 and 2005.
Musiwave
Musiwave is the leading provider of mobile music entertainment
services in Europe. With services distributed in 16 countries,
Musiwave deals with more than 30 leading mobile telecommunications
operators (T-Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica Moviles, Optimus,
Amena, Bouygues, SFR ...) and handset manufacturers (Nokia, Sagem
...). The added value of Musiwave's offer relies on the quality of
content cleared of rights, state-of-the-art mobile technology and
marketing and content management expertise.
About SDC
SDC develops unique DRM solutions to facilitate secure rich media
content distribution across the mobile and fixline chain. Its market
leading unique Digicont Java DRM technology, patented in 1996,
protects all types of digital content for distribution across multiple
device types and operating systems, with full, integrated licensing
and PKI handling for super-distribution. SDC works alongside leading
players in the DRM space to deliver the promise of mobile content
distribution, including BMG, Warner Music, EMI, Sony Music, Universal,
Sun Microsystems, Siemens Mobile,Digital World Services and Musiwave.
It is a member of the Open Mobile Alliance and MPEG 21. SDC's Java
DRM accords with the projected OMA Phase 2 standard, due to be
available for mass implementation in late 2005. SDC Java DRM is used
by O2 UK, Germany and Ireland, Vodafone D2 in Germany, SFR in France
and ExactMobile in South Africa to protect full-length music tracks.
SDC is a privately owned company headquartered in Basle, Switzerland.
More information can be found at
www.digicont.com.
Contact:
Coding Technologies GmbH, Nuernberg, Germany (Press)
Gerald Moser, + 49 911 928 91 14
+ 49 911 928 91 99 (fax)
Email Contact
www.codingtechnologies.com
or
Axicom GmbH, Puchheim, Germany (PR agency Europe)
Anne Klein, + 49 89 800 908 23
+ 49 89 800 908 10 (fax)
Email Contact
www.axicom.de
or
mPRm Communications, Los Angeles, Calif. (PR agency USA)
Karen DeMarco, + 1 323 933 3399
+ 1 323 939 7211 (fax)
Email Contact
www.mprm.com
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