Wolfson AudioPlus™ Power Management IC selected by Microsoft for its latest Zune HD media player

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Wolfson Microelectronics (LSE:WLF.L), the world’s leading provider of high performance mixed-signal semiconductors to the consumer electronics market, today announces that Microsoft has chosen the WM8352, a power management device with integrated stereo CODEC, for the next generation of its highly acclaimed portable media player, the Zune HD.

The WM8352 is a product from Wolfson’s successful portfolio of power management devices and offers a highly integrated solution delivering superior sound quality and extended battery life to leading edge portable multimedia devices.

Compatible with leading multimedia application processors, the WM8352 features an integrated high fidelity audio CODEC and power management subsystem, enabling the creation of new and exciting multimedia platforms, whilst significantly reducing power consumption, system cost, design and manufacturing complexity and time-to-market. With the WM8352, consumer electronics manufacturers can make savings up to 25 percent on the device bill of materials (BOM) and up to 50 percent on the board footprint in the areas of power management and audio.

Jess Brown, power management product line manager at Wolfson, said: “We are delighted to have Microsoft select our technology for the next generation Zune HD. Our inclusion in the innovative Zune HD is a great endorsement of our power management product line and the Wolfson AudioPlus™ technology strategy. It is also a great testimony to the quality of support that the Wolfson team provided to Microsoft on the previous Zune, where the WM8350 was used.”

The Zune HD is Microsoft’s next generation of the portable media player. Available in the U.S. on September 15, the Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities1, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser.

WM8352 functions include a high performance, low power audio CODEC with advanced mixing capability that delivers excellent 98dB SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) performance. The device also features on-chip clock generation, six DC-DC converters, four LDO (low drop-out) voltage regulators, a lithium battery charger, two white LED drivers and an auxiliary ADC (analogue to digital converter), all inside a compact 7x7mm BGA package.

HD Radio™ and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.

About Wolfson Microelectronics
Wolfson Microelectronics plc is a leading global provider of high performance, mixed-signal semiconductors to the consumer electronics market.

Renowned worldwide for its high performance audio and ultra low power consumption, Wolfson devices are at the heart of many of the world’s highest profile consumer electronics products, including mobile phones, portable media players, mp3 players, flat panel TVs and in-car infotainment systems. Wolfson technology enables exciting new end-user experiences by connecting the digital world to the human senses.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, UK, Wolfson has sales and engineering offices in the USA, Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and India.

Wolfson Microelectronics plc is listed on the London stock exchange (LSE: WLF.L).

For more information about Wolfson Microelectronics, please visit:
www.wolfsonmicro.com or sign up for Wolfson eNews at:
www.wolfsonmicro.com/enews

1 Zune HD AV dock and HDTV (all sold separately) required. 

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CONTACTS FOR PRESS RELEASE SUPPORT MATERIALS

CORPORATE

Allan Hughes
VP Product & Solutions Marketing
Wolfson Microelectronics plc
allan.hughes@wolfsonmicro.com
+44 (0) 131 272 7000

US

Al Haun
Precision Communications
al_haun@comcast.net
+1 (508) 876 9400

EUROPE

Laura Moore
PR Manager
Wolfson Microelectronics
laura.moore@wolfsonmicro.com
+44 (0)131 272 7137

JAPAN

David Huerta
Jspin Communications
david@jspin.co.jp
+81 352 691 038

CHINA

Sunray Liu
Beijing New Synergy Consulting
sunray@1and7.com
+86 10 8811 3067

SOUTH KOREA

Terry Kim
Shout Korea Communications
wolfson@shoutkorea.com
+82 255 89890

TAIWAN

Thomas Chou
Access PR
wolfson@accesspr.com.tw
+ 888 2 8773 4277

ROW

Laura Moore
PR Manager
Wolfson Microelectronics
laura.moore@wolfsonmicro.com
+44 (0)131 272 7137