LONDON, Sept. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imagination Technologies (IMG.L) announces it has received certification for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ ac and qualification for Bluetooth® Smart for its high-performance Ensigma Explorer radio processing unit (RPU) communications IP. Attained through Wi-Fi Alliance® and the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) respectively, these certifications instill a high level of confidence among chip makers on the quality and interoperability of Ensigma IP-based RPUs. The Wi-Fi^® certification further makes Ensigma RPUs the world's first communications IP to be certified for 802.11ac.

Programmable Ensigma Explorer RPUs address the ever-growing challenge of proliferating communications and connectivity standards by supporting them all on a single architecture, and enabling them to be integrated onto SoCs for the lowest possible system cost. The high-performance Explorer family is complemented by the ultra-low power Ensigma Whisper communications IP family, which is designed specifically to enable the integration of ultra-low power communications in SoCs. All Ensigma RPUs are provided as a complete communications solution from RF to software.

Chakra Parvathaneni, Imagination's vice president of Ensigma Business Operations, says: "Our customers increasingly realize the benefits of implementing advanced communications processors on chip, rather than using a standalone solution – making Imagination's portfolio of end-to-end communications offerings particularly attractive to customers. The certification of the Ensigma Explorer RPUs will enable customers in a wide range of markets to reduce system costs and power consumption while delivering reliable advanced wireless connectivity with assured interoperability."

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac is the latest generation of Wi-Fi, which delivers multi-gigabyte data rates, enabling devices to handle demanding applications such as Ultra HD and 4K video, multimedia streaming and rapid file transfer on tablets, gaming devices, handsets and many other devices. In addition, Explorer RPUs have undergone a rigorous program that tests for performance, compliance with the specification, interoperability across vendors, and backward compatibility to older standards.

Bluetooth Smart consumes a fraction of the power of Classic Bluetooth radios, creating significant advantages for developers and manufacturers, while providing a better user experience for their customers. It extends the use of Bluetooth wireless technology to devices that are powered by small, coin-cell batteries such as watches and toys. Other devices such as sports and fitness, health care, keyboards and mice, beacons, wearables and entertainment devices are enhanced by this version of the technology.

Imagination's Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac and Bluetooth Smart certifications join a growing list of existing certifications including Miracast^®, Passpoint™, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct®, WPA™, WPA2™, WMM^® and Wi-Fi Protected Setup™.

About Ensigma RPUs

The Ensigma range of RPUs includes the low-power Whisper family and the high-performance Explorer family, designed to address applications from ultra-low power to maximum performance, and with a common API, customers can reuse software across the platforms. Ensigma RPUs provide multi-standard support in a single architecture, designed to enable customers to bring standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Smart, NFC, GNSS and other existing or emerging low-power connectivity technologies onto their SoCs. By bringing this functionality on-chip, customers can minimize power consumption, silicon footprint and system cost compared with conventional solutions. Ensigma RPUs are shipping today in numerous low-power audio and connectivity devices with a growing range of designs in the pipeline.

About Imagination Technologies

Imagination is a global technology leader whose products touch the lives of billions of people across the globe. The company's broad range of silicon IP (intellectual property) includes the key processing blocks needed to create the SoCs (Systems on Chips) that power all mobile, consumer and embedded electronics. Its unique software IP, infrastructure technologies and system solutions enable its customers to get to market quickly with complete and highly differentiated SoC platforms. Imagination's licensees include many of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, network operators and OEMs/ODMs who are creating some of the world's most iconic products. See: www.imgtec.com.

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CONTACT: Imagination Technologies' Press Contacts:
         UK: David Harold
         david.harold@imgtec.com
         +44 (0)1923 260 511
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