Qualcomm Acquires SoftMax for Noise Reduction

Qualcomm has acquired San Diego-based SoftMax Inc.,

a developer of noise reduction technology for mobile devices, for an undisclosed sum.
SoftMax offers voice algorithms for signal separation, echo cancellation and signal processing. The technology, which is currently in wireless devices on the market, can separate a speaker's voice from various background noises. The result is a dramatic improvement in voice quality, providing significant differentiation for the end product. The company said it has several key partnerships and implementations with industry-leading handset and Bluetooth headset OEMs using dual-microphone designs.



Qualcomm said SoftMax's multi-microphone noise suppression and echo cancellation expertise will broaden the audio and voice capabilities of its product portfolio. The technology can be integrated into devices such as mobile handsets, Bluetooth headsets, VoIP phones and notebook PCs.

http://www.qualcomm.com

http://www.softmax.comSoftMax was founded in 1998 by scientists from The Salk Institute and The University of California, San Diego