“Fraunhofer Surround Sound Technology Selected for SK Broadband Mobile Video Services
Fraunhofer Cingo to be integrated into SK Telecom smartphones through
“Btv mobile”
ERLANGEN, Germany September 4, 2013 – Cingo, the latest innovation in
audio technology from Fraunhofer IIS, is coming to SK Broadband, an affiliate
of SK Telecom and South Korea’s leading IPTV provider. SK Broadband’s
ubiquitous “Btv mobile” (Btv) live broadcast TV and video on demand service
will now feature superior audio from the world renowned audio experts at
Fraunhofer.
August 30, the Btv mobile app has become available for SKB’s subscribers on
smartphones. New SK Telecom smartphones (e.g. Samsung GalaxyS4, LG G2) will ship
with the Cingo-enabled version of the app pre-installed. Existing users can download
an app update that incorporates Cingo. All Btv content including live broadcast TV,
movies, cable programming and new audio channels will benefit from the enhanced
Cingo experience. Initially, users will enjoy enhanced stereo sound (better sound image
and improved equalization), improved sound experience in noisy environments, and
better intelligibility of dialogue or commentary in TV programs or movies.
“The adoption of Fraunhofer Cingo by a leading service provider in one of the world’s
largest smartphone markets demonstrates that, as video and display technologies
improve, there is an increased demand for high-quality audio,” Harald Popp, head of
the Audio & Multimedia Business department at Fraunhofer IIS, stated.
Soon, Btv also will offer true 5.1 surround sound using the HE-AAC audio codec.
Thanks to Cingo and the native support of HE-AAC Multichannel in all Android 4.1+
devices, the Btv mobile app is ready for playback of surround sound content via
headphones or connection to a home theater system via an HDMI cable.
“Our customers have come to expect the highest quality wherever they are, and the
addition of Fraunhofer Cingo represents our commitment towards innovation and
continuous improvement of the user experience. Cingo is a true turning point for us as
it will again increase the customer satisfaction by creating an intriguing sense of
realism,” said Mr. Han-Su Kim, Head of Media Business Group at SK Broadband.
Cingo dramatically improves the entertainment experience on mobile devices. It allows
for a complete immersion into a film’s sound when listening over headphones or stereo
speakers in a similar way that multichannel audio systems achieve in theaters.
Furthermore, Cingo delivers natural and clear sound even in the noisiest environments.
The efficient delivery of surround sound to mobile devices is made possible by the High
Efficiency AAC (HE-AAC) audio codec technology. HE-AAC was co-developed by
Fraunhofer IIS and is today’s most efficient high-quality surround and stereo audio
codec. Android phones and tablets with Android 4.1 and later natively support HE-AAC
Multichannel and in combination with Cingo, they become true entertainment centers
while on the move or at home.
Cingo is available from Fraunhofer as a product-ready software implementation for
mobile device manufacturers, chip set vendors and providers of multimedia services.
Fraunhofer IIS will demonstrate Cingo and HE-AAC on the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 at
IFA, hall 11.1, in Berlin, September 6 -11, and at IBC, booth 8.B80, in Amsterdam,
September 13-17.
For more information about Fraunhofer Cingo, please visit www.fraunhofer-cingo.com.
About Cingo
Fraunhofer Cingo creates an enhanced stereo and realistic surround sound impression
when listening over stereo speakers or headphones. Based on the latest developments
in audio technology, Fraunhofer Cingo contains a complete set of tools to deliver an
exceptional level of audio quality, unmatched on mobile devices.
With the virtual surround sound mode each audio channel is presented as a virtual
sound source in such a way that it is heard from a specific location and distance, for
example a loudspeaker of a 5.1 surround setup in a living room. This enables the
playback of stereo or surround sound over the built-in speakers or any type of
headphones with an authentic surround effect.
The loudness optimization feature of Cingo delivers a natural and clear sound even in
the most challenging situations. Together with the equalizing algorithm, which
compensates for the common audio quality deficiencies often encountered with
smartphones and tablets, Fraunhofer Cingo ensures significantly improved audio
quality in any listening situation.”
