Laird Technologies, a provider of electronics components and technology for wireless communications, has licensed APTX’ apt-X technology, to be used in Bluetooth stereo audio multi-chip modules that are being built for OEM integration into automotive, commercial, and consumer applications.

According to Laird officals, in order to meet the demands of an increasingly wireless world the company has integrated its Radio Frequency modules into applications previously communicated by cables. It selected the apt-X technology in order to optimize the objective sound quality of stereo audio channeled over the 2.4GHz ISM band from all four members of its latest family of Bluetooth modules.

The apt-X Bluetooth is an optimized version of the Enhanced apt-X audio codec to fit within Bluetooth A2DP Stereo distribution profile. Bluetooth 2.1 system-on-a-chip has been used in entertainment devices such as media players, mobiles, and smartphones, to laptops, tablets, and games consoles.

Each of the Laird BTM modules – the "Class 2" (~10m range) 521 and antenna-less 520, and the more powerful "Class 1" (~100m range) 511 and antenna-less 510 – incorporates the CSR (News - Alert) BlueCore5 semiconductor, the Bluetooth 2.1 system-on-a-chip used extensively in digital entertainment devices.

The UK-based Director of Sales for Laird Technologies (News - Alert), Carl Baker has stated that they wanted the best possible stereo audio quality for BTM and its new Bluetooth stereo wireless audio module designs based on the CSR BlueCore5. Just by listening ones to the speakers playing uncompressed music and MP3 audio material streaming over Bluetooth A2DP wireless they immediately opted for the apt-X coding technology.

VP of Licensing for APTX, Stephen Wray added that the availability of Laird's best-in-class Bluetooth modules pre-installed with apt-X allows high-end audio designers to identify readymade standards-based wireless audio technology for new product development. The apt-X audio coding avoids the channel bandwidth constraints inbuilt in the stereo Bluetooth profile and enables full-frequency bandwidth wireless audio streaming to acquire the richest stereo sound possible.

Laird now offers BTM 510, 511, 520 and 521 Bluetooth stereo wireless audio modules through their sales channels. The company expects the sales volumes of actual shipped modules to reach up to 1M units per annum in 12 months.

In related news Laird Technologies recently launched an online stock locator system and unveiled a base station antenna for WiMax.