Date: 10/04/2011

Arcturus, Encore and Redpine deliver voice apps software for Freescale's CF5301x Processor

Arcturus Networks Inc., Encore Software and Redpine Signals today announced the availability of an enhanced, bundled software solution for wired or wireless digital voice applications supporting Freescale Semiconductor's MCF5301x voice processor family. This solution targets industrial and consumer digital voice applications including VoIP devices, intercom systems, access control applications, healthcare and point-of-sale devices.

The software is built on the ColdFire embedded Linux distribution with components provided by all three groups. Overall integration was completed by Arcturus to form a system-level development kit that includes complete hardware, software and out of the box demos. The software package also includes an integrated voice processing sub-system optimized for the ColdFire architecture by Encore Software.

"Encore Software's voice processing subsystem is tightly coupled with the hardware in order to make use of internal CPU acceleration and SRAM. The result is a highly optimized suite of vocoders as well as robust acoustic echo cancellation algorithms that are performance tuned for the system architecture" said Vasuki M P, vice president, from Encore Software.

"Multiple connectivity options are made available through the dual Fast Ethernet Controllers (FECs) supported by the MCF5301x processor as well as support to enable 802.11 b/g/n wireless network communications using Redpine Signals' RS9110-N-11-02 802.11n WLAN module, utilizing the processor's Secure Digital Host Controller (SDHC). "

"Redpine Signals' 802.11n n-LinkTM module, which is among industry's first to get Wi-Fi Direct and voice-personal certification from Wi-Fi Alliance, provides ultra low-power and high data rate wireless LAN support extending the connectivity options of the overall system to include applications such as wireless belt-pack, handsets and voice gateways. The MCF5301x solution kit includes Redpine's 802.11n board along with all the software making it very easy to integrate in the end system," said Venkat Mattela, CEO of Redpine Signals.

The modular hardware development kit was designed by Arcturus to provide developers a reference tool and a product ready hardware implementation suitable for OEM applications. Arcturus also provided core middleware subsystems for voice and device management.

"Our middleware components accelerate development by providing the building blocks to create an array of digital voice devices. By leveraging our middleware, developers have access to a complete VoIP and broadcast voice sub-system as well as a full management infrastructure with web user interface, device discovery, firmware and remote management," said David Steele, product manager at Arcturus.
NRE-free License Model

All licenses for software use are bundled by Freescale and included as part of the MCF5301x voice processor part numbers to eliminate prohibitive upfront NRE charges and the need to integrate multiple software components from various vendors.

"By working with our partners, Freescale has been able to help remove a considerable barrier for developers by eliminating the extensive upfront NRE charges associated with other system-level VoIP and digital voice solutions," said Rudan Bettelheim, product manager at Freescale Semiconductor.

The system is currently available for a suggested retail price of $799US through Freescale distributors or Arcturus direct.