Sierra Semiconductor and DSP Group Announce Licensing Agreement for TrueSpeech Technology

Strategic Insights -

Sierra Semiconductor Corporation and DSP Group, Inc. have signed a licensing agreement for DSP Group's speech compression software, TrueSpeech. The agreement allows Sierra to use TrueSpeech in their high-speed modem solutions for Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data (DSVD) applications. DSVD enables users to talk interactively and share computer information simultaneously over a single telephone line, enhancing workplace productivity and enriching PC entertainment applications. The TrueSpeech compression software digitizes, compresses, and transmits voice conversations over the same phone line used for data transfer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sierra Semiconductor will license TrueSpeech, DSP Group's speech compression software, for use in their high-speed modem solutions.
  • The agreement focuses on developing solutions for Digital Simultaneous Voice and Data (DSVD) applications, which support interactive computing, gaming, and other applications.
  • DSVD will enhance workplace productivity and enrich PC entertainment applications by allowing users to talk interactively and share computer information simultaneously over a single telephone line.
  • TrueSpeech will be used to digitize, compress, and transmit voice conversations over the same phone line used for data transfer.
  • Several adopters, including AT&T, U.S. Robotics, and Multi-Tech, have announced TrueSpeech-based DSVD products.
  • TrueSpeech will also be included with Microsoft's new Windows 95 operating system, expected later this year.
  • The ITU has standardized a different version of TrueSpeech in the new speech compression standard, G.723, for visual telephony products such as video conferencing.

Statistics:

  • 28.8Kbps (V.34) and 14.4Kbps (V.32bis) are the multimedia modem speeds supported by Sierra Semiconductor.
  • TrueSpeech supports interoperability between products from different vendors on various digital signal processor platforms.
  • Sierra Semiconductor is a key player in the feature-rich modem arena, joining AT&T, U.S. Robotics, and Multi-Tech as companies announcing TrueSpeech-based DSVD products.

Sources:

  • "Sierra Semiconductor Corporation, San Jose, California (NASDAQ:SERA), a leading provider of advanced V.34 (28.8Kbps) and V.32bis (14.4Kbps) multimedia modems..."
  • (BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 1995
  • DSP Group, Inc., Santa Clara, California (NASDAQ:DSPG) was cited as the developer of TrueSpeech compression software.
  • DSP Group, Inc. develops and markets digital signal processors (DSP) and digital speech products for the PC, multimedia, consumer, and communications markets.