CSR to Combine High-Performance, Low-Power Bluetooth Reference Designs with Freescale Platforms

CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2006--CSR plc (LSE:CSR):

CSR plc (LSE:CSR) and Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) are collaborating to provide mobile phone makers with full-feature, high-performance, low-power Bluetooth(TM) reference designs. CSR's BlueCore hardware and software for Bluetooth will be combined with Freescale's 2.5G, 2.75G and 3G mobile phone platforms and the i.MX family of applications processors.

CSR's BlueCore4 ICs, BlueCore Host Software (BCHS) and BCHS Instant Mobile together with Freescale's platforms and processors provide a complete system solution for handset manufacturers to get to market quickly. Freescale's Mobile eXtreme Convergence (MXC) cellular platforms and i.MX processors are designed to deliver high performance with low power consumption, open OS support, and built-in security.

BlueCore4 is the industry-leading silicon implementing Bluetooth v2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate). BlueCore4 delivers data rates up to 3-times faster with lower power consumption than previous Bluetooth devices. CSR's BCHS provides the upper layers of the Bluetooth protocol stack, plus a large library of Bluetooth profiles, to provide a complete software solution with a simple API for embedded BlueCore applications. BCHS reduces power consumption by implementing all possible low power modes such as deep sleep mode, allowing the BlueCore silicon to effectively shut down the Bluetooth radio when not in use, minimizing the drain on a phone's power supply.

"Our proven, integrated 2.5G and 3G platforms and applications processors, joined with CSR's market-leading BlueCore technology, offer mobile phone makers robust reference designs to help deliver better performance and longer battery life," said Berardino Baratta,General Manager of Multimedia Applications Division for Freescale's wireless group. "These are mature solutions manufacturers can trust and use to put Bluetooth technology on mobile handsets quickly and easily"

Matthew Philips, Senior VP Mobile Handset Connectivity Strategic Business Unit, CSR added, "CSR is interested in delivering the most advanced wireless technologies to mobile device makers in the shortest time possible and making the integration as easy as possible." Philips continued, "Our partnership with Freescale is an excellent step in this direction, and we feel sure this will benefit mobile phone makers who chose to use Freescale's leading handset platforms."

About CSR

CSR plc is the leading global provider of Bluetooth technology and has developed expertise in other single-chip wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11). CSR offers developed hardware/software solutions for Bluetooth based around BlueCore, a fully integrated 2.4 GHz radio, baseband and microcontroller.

CSR has now launched its fifth generation BlueCore suite and is in volume manufacture of its fourth generation BlueCore devices. BlueCore4 supports the Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) standard, which was ratified at the end of 2004. BlueCore4 remains the only EDR silicon to be shipping in volume today. In November 2004 CSR launched UniFi, the first single chip 802.11a/b/g embedded solution specifically targeting the mobile phone and consumer electronics markets.

BlueCore features in over 50 percent of all Bluetooth devices shipped and over 60 percent of all qualified Bluetooth enabled products and modules listed on the Bluetooth website with industry leaders including Nokia, Dell, Panasonic, Sharp, Motorola, IBM, Apple, NEC, Toshiba, RIM and Sony using BlueCore devices in their range of Bluetooth products.

In March 2005, CSR acquired Clarity Technologies Inc., for its Clear Voice Capture (CVC) technology that enhances the audio performance of any voice-based product or system. Applications for CVC include wireless headsets, handsets and automotive hands free systems.

In August 2005, CSR completed the acquisition of UbiNetics' software business, providing a strong R&D team to accelerate its existing software development in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and UWB. The UbiNetics team gives CSR the capacity to extend its offering to mobile handset customers.

CSR has its headquarters and offices in Cambridge, UK, and offices in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, India, France, Denmark, Sweden and both Texas and Detroit in the USA.

More information can be found at www.csr.com and the partner web site www.btdesigner.com

More information about Bluetooth technology can be found on the SIG web site at www.bluetooth.com

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NYSE:FSL) (NYSE:FSL.B) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. Freescale became a publicly traded company in July 2004 after more than 50 years as part of Motorola, Inc. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, a member of the S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2005 sales of $5.8 billion (USD).

www.freescale.com

Freescale(TM) and the Freescale logo are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. (C) Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. 2006.