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Press release 10 June 2002
MODULAR TECHNOLOGY BECOMES DIGITAL RADIO STAR
UK COMPANY ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE DIGITAL RADIO SOLUTION FOR THE PC MARKET
Modular Technology, a provider of plug and play solutions for the PC market, launches the new ‘Plug and Play’ DAB digital radio PCI card for use in personal computers. Interest in digital radio has surged in recent months with the advent of radio stations offering new digital channels with streamlined programmes to tempt the consumer. The PCI card was developed in response to this demand and provides users with first class reception, no interference and the widest choice of programmes available from DAB broadcasters, all for under £100.
Behind this ingenious card is the TMS320DRE200 digital radio baseband and analog chipset from Texas Instruments. A key part of the development process was also supported by RadioScape Ltd, which provided DRE200 based reference designs and user interface software from their family of consumer radio designs. RadioScape’s technology enabled Modular Technology to reduce by 80% the time taken to design and develop their product. The PCI card comes complete with both an indoor aerial and drivers for Windows 98, Me, 2000 and XP.
Chris Baldock, managing director of Modular Technology, commented, “Radio stations have ambitious plans for the capacity of digital radio that can only be achieved by making it available to the target consumers through cheaper access methods. We have been tracking the digital radio market for a number of years and have identified that with the reduction in the cost of materials, the time is now ripe to bring high quality low cost receivers to consumers. The Youth oriented stations in particular will not reach critical mass without the availability of widely publicised low cost units”
Ian Dickins, CEO of the Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB), said, “The DRDB welcomes Modular Technology’s arrival in the DAB digital radio market. Their new PCI card extends the range of DAB products available at an affordable price point and that’s good news for DAB broadcasters. This is the first commercially available digital radio product to come EPG ready and the fact that it is simple to use and priced to appeal is an added bonus.”
The TIME Group intends to supply Modular Technology’s DAB digital radio card across its ranges of home and office PCs and as a stand-alone product. Colin Middlemiss, TIME spokesperson said, “Digital Radio cards are an exciting addition to the hardware that we can give to our customers. The ability to access unique stations individually tailored to your musical tastes is just one of many benefits that digital radio offers. TIME Group looks forward to working with Modular Technology and being able to bring this exciting product to the high street.”
The PCI card’s ‘On Screen’ user interface provides users with a unique radio experience that exploits the power of digital radio’s digital quality audio and datacasting capabilities. Not only can the interface display full programme information and the genre of each radio station, but it also facilitates scheduling of recordings ahead of time from electronic programme guides with one click of a mouse. Recordings can be stored as MPEG-2 files or in MP3 format for direct downloads to MP3 players, an additional facility provided by RadioScape’s QuickDAB. Additionally, users can email a programme presenter and easily link to the radio station’s web site with a single click.
The PCI digital card is part of Modular Technology's 'Digital World' product range of PC-centric and standalone radio and TV products which will be launched by Modular Technology over the next few months through retail and OEM channels. The PCI card will be released in Europe and Canada in parallel with the UK launch. It is available as a standalone card on the high street and as an add-on for PC manufacturers eager to offer differentiated products for their customers in that highly competitive market. Production will begin in the UK in June and the digital radios will be on sale from major high street retailers at under £100 including VAT.
About Modular Technology
Modular Technology designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of Communications Audio, Video and Entertainment products for use with Personal Computers. Based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, the company has offices in Taiwan and in Chicago and Tampa USA.
Visit - www.modulartech.com & www.digitalradio.tv
For more information, contact:
Tel: 44 (0)1 869 321 323
Fax: 44 (0)1 869 321 672
About RadioScape
RadioScape® Ltd. is the premier provider of software and hardware technology aimed at accelerating the development of digital wireless communications systems. RadioScape’s core product, the Communication Virtual Machine™ (CVM®) enables semiconductor companies and protocol stack developers to rapidly develop and deploy multi-vendor, complex, real-time DSP applications in a hardware-neutral fashion, reducing time-to-market and development costs. RadioScape simplifies the creation of wireless receivers and transmission infrastructure for digital radio, and partners with Texas Instruments to create digital radio chips for consumer products. Founded in 1996, RadioScape’s investors include Royal Bank Ventures, Scottish Equity Partners, Atlas Venture, JAFCO, Texas Instruments, Yasuda Enterprise Development, iGlobe Partners, Psion and NTL. RadioScape is headquartered in London, England, and has offices in Redwood City, California, USA. For more information, visit http://www.radioscape.com.
For more information, contact:
John Collins
Director of Strategic Marketing
RadioScape
Tel: +44 20 7317 1969
john.collins@radioscape.com
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Laura Sewell/Stephanie Kane
Harvard Public Relations
Tel: +44 20 8759 0005
laura.sewell@harvard.co.uk
stephanie.kane@harvard.co.uk
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About TI
Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions.
TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN.
More information is located on the World Wide Web at www.ti.com.
About TIME Group
TIME Group's leading brands of home and office computers offer excellent quality at great value prices. Its ranges of desktop and notebook computers provide both experienced and novice users with machines individually prepared for their owner’s specific use. The TIME Group’s brands include TIME Computers, Tiny Computers and The Computer World, a new retail brand launched by the TIME Group in 2002.
For more information please contact:
Colin Middlemiss or Chris Woolford at TIME Group Press Office,
Time Technology Park,
Burnley,
Lancashire,
BB12 7TG
01282 770044
About the DRDB
The Digital Radio Development Bureau is funded and supported by BBC, Digital One, Score Digital, EMAP Digital Radio, CE Digital, MXR, Capital Digital and Now-Digital. The DRDB’s task is to ensure digital radio’s wide accessibility and swift adoption in the UK with consistent and effective marketing.
For more information, please contact:
Mandy Green
Tel: DRDB press office - 020 7306 2636
Email: mandy@drdb.org
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