SRS Labs has announced that its audio “enhancing” technology supports a MontaVista Linux distribution optimized for ARM9-based consumer electronics devices including mobile phones. The company says WOW XT for Mobile on MontaVista Linux Consumer Edition (CE) will bring 3D stereo imaging and heavy bass performance to music, ring tones, and games on ARM-based feature phones and other devices with one or two speakers, or headphones.

SRS notes that 145 million feature phones are expected to ship globally in 2004, according to Richard Windsor of Nomura Securities International in London. SRS says that Linux could become “the defacto standard” for feature phones.

MontaVista CE is said to be optimized for fast boot times, low power use, and other features desirable in consumer electronics devices. MontaVista's CE kernel is also a foundation of CELF's (Consumer Electronics Linux Forum's) Linux distribution for CE devices.

“Next generation handsets featuring powerful gaming and streaming content are increasing the need for enhanced multimedia performance,” commented MontaVista product manager for mobile and wireless Jacob Lehrbaum.

SRS IC development director Joanna Skrdlant added, “By supporting standard and emerging operating systems such as Linux on ARM microprocessors, we've been able to deliver WOW XT for specific licensee requests. WOW XT for Linux is available for customers to license for ARM9 processors, Freescale's i.MX processors, TI OMAP processors and other ARM-based chipsets. This MontaVista Linux WOW XT solution should open new opportunities for SRS Labs to penetrate the growing number of Linux handsets in Asia.”

Semiconductor firm Oki yesterday announced a general-purpose ARM-based chip with integral support for WOW SRS.

 
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