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BridgeCo Teams With Heartland Data Co. To Meet Rising Japanese Demand for Networked Audio

Posted on: Monday, 22 September 2008, 09:00 CDT

BridgeCo (www.bridgeco.com), a leader in networked entertainment technology, announced that they have partnered with innovative Japanese software designer Heartland Data Co. to develop networked audio products for major consumer brands. Heartland selected BridgeCo's JukeBlox networked audio technology to develop Internet radio and networked music player products for multinational OEMs based in Japan.

BridgeCo previously announced that its networked audio processors and firmware have been designed into products offered by two of Japan's leading CE manufacturers. At least two additional top Japanese name brands are now actively designing with BridgeCo technology.

"BridgeCo's JukeBlox platform has already achieved significant success with some of the premier audio companies in Japan. These customers are currently expanding the number of product designs that incorporate BridgeCo technology, while other accounts are developing their first BridgeCo-based products to catch the networked audio wave," said Nobukazu Minamidate, President and Representative Director at Heartland Data. "BridgeCo's established audio track record, and its highly customizable JukeBlox platform, will enable Heartland to rapidly create unique consumer products for many CE brands."

Heartland (http://www.hldc.co.jp) is a leading software design house that has developed more than a dozen market leading A/V products for several of Japan's most recognizable global brands. Heartland will assist BridgeCo in building its customer base in Japan. Heartland joins a select group of designers as a chartered member of BridgeCo's JukeBlox Design Partner program. JukeBlox Design Partners are licensed to work with OEMs to create unique consumer products that leverage the power of the JukeBlox platform and enhance the middleware functionality that comes bundled from BridgeCo.

"With Denon, Pioneer, Harman Kardon, Philips and others already in production, and most of the rest of the household name brand accounts under development in Japan, Asia, Europe and North America, BridgeCo knew there would be a need for additional design capability around the world, and particularly in the Japanese market," stated Greg Ellard, VP of Marketing at BridgeCo. "We are extremely pleased that Heartland is joining our JukeBlox Development Partner Program to assist in the expansion of this next-generation of net-connected audio. Their reputation and existing relationships with more than a dozen A-list A/V brands will translate into rapid proliferation of BridgeCo technology amongst Japanese OEMs."

JukeBlox Platform Speeds Customization

JukeBlox is a complete networked audio technology platform that incorporates BridgeCo's latest triple-core processor, Linux-based SDK, and ready-to-manufacture hardware reference platform. It includes a significantly enhanced feature set that enables consumers to intuitively access an unequaled range of digital music and Internet radio content to discover music that they truly love. The powerful processor offers generous processing bandwidth to enable a wide variety of innovative audio applications and unique user interface customizations.

BridgeCo software has undergone extensive interoperability testing and field trials, and its functionality has been confirmed by widespread market acceptance. The comprehensive JukeBlox feature set includes: music services like Pandora, Rhapsody, vTuner, and Music Fingerprinting plus a wide portfolio of popular audio codecs like MP3 and AACs. JukeBlox functionality includes AM/FM radio and alarm clock features. Integrated connectivity options include Ethernet, WiFi and USB, as well as uPnP access to all stored content on the home network.

The JukeBlox Linux-based SDK is the industry's leading open platform for networked audio. It incorporates published APIs and access to JukeBlox source code, which allows JukeBlox design partners, like Heartland, to rapidly develop comprehensive product solutions for each customer and application.

About BridgeCo

BridgeCo, a consumer networking pioneer, offers the world's most comprehensive, cost-effective and highly integrated processor and software platforms for connecting Internet media sources, computers and consumer electronics throughout the home. BridgeCo technology is used by leading consumer electronics manufacturers worldwide in a wide range of innovative products, including digital media players, iPod docking stations, audio adapters, AVRs, audio systems, Internet radios, musical instruments and breakout boxes. Its silicon and software platforms were among the first anywhere to be DLNA(TM) Certified.

Using BridgeCo's processor and bundled software, OEMs can offer stand-alone media network products, or embed networking capabilities directly into consumer products, at competitive retail price points. The company also offers market-leading solutions for audio interface systems used by musicians and other content creators.

BridgeCo is an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company with operations in Los Angeles, California and Zurich, Switzerland. Its key investors include Advent Venture Partners, Balderton Capital (formerly Benchmark Capital Europe), Cipio Partners, Earlybird Venture Capital, ETV Capital, Fidelity Ventures, Intel Capital and Wellington Partners.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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