PMP Industry Rallies Around Kleer Wireless Audio Protocol

Leading portable audio manufacturers pick Kleer technology to forever change the way people use and enjoy their portable audio products

Cupertino, CA - January 7, 2008 - Kleer (www.kleer.com), today announced that a bevy of leading brand-name consumer electronics manufacturers, representing a cross-section of portable audio market segments, have announced support for the Kleer wireless audio protocol. Endorsement comes from a broad cross-section of industry players, including Sennheiser, AKG, RCA, Pioneer, Ultimate Ears, Global Icons, iSkin, Cresyn, DigiFi, Foster, Fujikon, Kaga Components and Yusan. All products based on the Kleer protocol will be certified by the Kleer interoperability test procedure and will carry the Kleer logo on packaging.

“Wireless audio is a greenfield application in the MP3 player market – no technology to date has come close to meeting either the low power or high quality requirements of the space” states Levent Gun, President and CEO of Kleer. “Today the industry is proclaiming that Kleer meets these requirements,
and a new era of portable audio products begins.”

“Sound quality is a fundamental issue for us”, claims Stijn Jans, Managing Director of Sennheiser Consumer Electronics, Singapore branch. “Kleer’s uncompressed transmission enabled Sennheiser to bring true wireless earbuds to market that have that signature Sennheiser sound. This is a product our customer base is eagerly expecting, and a product not viable with any other wireless technology.”

A key element of the Kleer announcement is the availability of the Kleer interoperability test procedure. This ensures that all products bearing the Kleer logo are interoperable, thus setting the stage for a Kleer-based wireless audio ecosystem. While an MP3 player equipped with a Kleer transmitter can stream stereo audio to wireless earbuds, the same player can transmit to wireless home speakers, in vehicle speakers, or even other players.

“Kleer’s interoperability strategy and associated plan to facilitate a wireless audio ecosystem are important elements in our evaluation of their wireless audio technology”, explains Rob Fuhlbrugge, Director of Advanced Development and Technology Sourcing at Shure.

Besides support from manufacturers, Kleer is also announcing the support of primary elements of the wireless audio value chain, including ODM’s, design houses and industrial design firms. Products from prominent wireless ODM’s including Cresyn, DigiFi, Foster, Fujikon, Kaga Components and Yusan will be announced and shown at CES 2008, including tethered and untethered earbuds and wireless speakers.

Sound quality and interoperability between market-ready products will be demonstrated during CES 2008 at the Kleer press conference being held on January 7, 2007 at the Venetian, Casanova 501/601 at 10:00a.m.