QNX Wins 2008 Elektra Award for Embedded System Product of the Year

OTTAWA, November 13, 2008 — QNX Software Systems, the global leader in operating systems and middleware for the in-car telematics and infotainment market, today announced that the QNX® Aviage® Acoustic Processing Suite has won a 2008 Elektra Award for embedded system product of the year. Organized by Electronics Weekly, the annual Elektra awards recognize excellence and innovation in the electronics industry. QNX received the award earlier this week in Munich, Germany.

The QNX Aviage Acoustic Processing Suite is a groundbreaking software product that dramatically reduces the cost and improves the quality of handsfree systems for the automobile. The suite uses patented algorithms to extract the human voice from noisy car interiors, thereby improving the clarity and user experience of handsfree phone conversations.

The suite also eliminates the need for dedicated hardware and reduces the tuning process, making handsfree and speech recognition systems more affordable for a larger range of automobiles. Based on technology already deployed on vehicle platforms from Acura, Audi, BMW, Daimler, Fiat, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Porsche, and other automakers, the suite replaces dedicated voice-processing hardware with a small, efficient software solution.

Highly customizable, the suite offers a modular library of software algorithms that system designers can use individually or in combination, based on application requirements. Modules include acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression, automatic gain control, dynamic level control, parametric equalization, bandwidth extension, wind buffet removal, and many others. This modular architecture, along with support for multiple processors and DSPs, allows system designers to easily update, modify, and reuse the kit across multiple product lines.

“Handsfree phone kits and speech recognition systems are vitally important in today's connected automobiles because they help drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road,” said Kerry Johnson, director, product management, QNX Software Systems. “This award is a testament to how the QNX Aviage Acoustic Processing Suite brings the usability and affordability of handsfree systems to a whole new level.”

About QNX Software Systems
QNX Software Systems, a Harman International company (NYSE: HAR), is the industry leader in realtime, embedded OS technology. The component-based architectures of the QNX® Neutrino® RTOS, QNX Momentics® development suite, and QNX Aviage® middleware together provide the industry’s most reliable and scalable framework for building innovative, high-performance embedded systems. Global leaders such as Cisco, Daimler, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens depend on QNX technology for network routers, medical instruments, vehicle telematics units, security and defense systems, industrial robotics, and other mission- or life-critical applications. Founded in 1980, QNX Software Systems is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and distributes products in over 100 countries worldwide.

Editorial Contacts

Paul Leroux
QNX Software Systems
+1 613 591-0931
paull@qnx.com

QNX, Aviage, Momentics, and Neutrino are trademarks of QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KG, registered in certain jurisdictions, and are used under license. All other trademarks and trade names belong to their respective owners.