Fraunhofer MPEG audio codecs and mobile surround sound available for Android

Press Release /

Fraunhofer IIS is to introduce a broad range of MPEG audio codecs such as MPEG-4 HE-AAC v2 and MPEG Surround, suitable for implementation on Android-based mobile phones at the 2010 Mobile World Congress (Barcelona, February, 15-18). These efficient implementations of state-of-the-art MPEG audio technologies complete the software portfolio of Fraunhofer IIS, a reliable supplier of ready-to-run-software with more than 20 years of experience in the development and implementation of MPEG audio codecs.

In line with its continuing focus on new audio technologies, Fraunhofer is now able to offer a comprehensive range of codecs also for the Android operating system.

Technologies include the MPEG-4 HE-AAC v2 standard, the codec of choice for any mobile multimedia application including digital television and radio broadcasting as well as Internet radio streaming over 3G or WiFi connections. Also available is MPEG Surround, the new ISO standard codec that brings multi-channel audio to mobile devices and living rooms. Operating on top of existing audio codecs such as HE-AAC, it enables content providers targeting mobile devices, to deliver highest surround audio quality at stereo bit-rates to handsets equipped with conventional headphones. Music and video streaming as well as Mobile-TV services can be enhanced with a true surround sound experience without an increase in audio bitrate. At the same time, legacy devices play the streams in excellent stereo quality.

Fraunhofer’s MPEG audio software portfolio for Android is completed by offerings including MPEG AAC-LC, HD-AAC and AAC-ELD codecs. All software libraries are specifically optimized for low resource consumption on Android-based devices.

Fraunhofer IIS is involved in all MPEG audio standardization activities and offers quick access to product-ready implementations on embedded processors. Implementations are available for all popular platforms, including ARM, MIPS, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Freescale, PowerPC, Starcore and other processors.

For further information, please visit www.iis.fraunhofer.de/audio.