CSR announced its participation in the BECI (Bluetooth Embedded Control Interface) working group in association with the Bluetooth SIG. BECI has been set up to develop a standard interface/API for designers to quickly and easily bring Bluetooth products to the embedded and automotive markets. The standardised embedded control interface is intended to significantly simplify and accelerate the development process, provide superior functionality for automated testing and enable the concurrent use of profiles without wasting or blocking embedded system resources.

CSR has taken the role of driving the framework document for all BECI specifications, and acts as a prominent force in the working group’s development activity. The group is aimed towards developing Bluetooth applications, profiles and functionality in the embedded marketplace with automotive applications as a key target. An embedded control interface endorsed by the Bluetooth SIG and supported by multiple suppliers will open the automotive market to a variety of new applications and bring the attach rate for Bluetooth in automobiles to much higher levels.

Jennifer Bray, Head of Global Standards at CSR, commented, "This is a great opportunity for the automotive industry to progress past the readily available Bluetooth headsets and hands free kits. A standard interface will allow designers to change products around without disrupting the development process, as well as minimising costs. By removing the pressure of gaining an in-depth knowledge of Bluetooth, BECI hopes to encourage application developers to widen their understanding of how to implement Bluetooth into various devices and applications. This is expected to foster a growing upswing of Bluetooth embedded device development and niche markets."