Former type Public limited company Fate Acquired by Qualcomm Headquarters Cambridge, United Kingdom Founded 1998 | Traded as LSE: CSR Defunct August 2015 Revenue 774.8 million USD (2014) Ceased operations August 2015 | |
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Industry Semiconductors
Communications Key people Ron Mackintosh (Chairman)
Joep van Beurden (CEO)
Will Gardiner (CFO) Founders Phil O'Donovan, James Collier, Glenn Collinson Parent organizations Qualcomm, Qualcomm Global Trading Pte. Ltd. Subsidiaries SiRF, Zoran Corporation, APT Licensing Limited | ||
CSR plc (formerly Cambridge Silicon Radio) was a multinational fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Its main products were connectivity, audio, imaging and location chips. CSR was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index until it was acquired by Qualcomm in August 2015. Under Qualcomm's ownership, the company was renamed Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd.
Contents
History
The company was founded in 1998 and split away from Cambridge Consultants as Cambridge Silicon Radio or CSR in 1999. The founding directors, who were all at Cambridge Consultants at the time were Phil O'Donovan, James Collier and Glenn Collinson. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2004.
In 2005 the company acquired Clarity Technologies, a leading Clear Voice Capture (CVC) business. In 2005 CSR also acquired the 3G wireless (WCDMA/UMTS/HSDPA) technology company UbiNetics. In 2007, CSR acquired Nordnav, a Swedish-based GPS software company, and CPS, a Cambridge-based GPS software company producing Enhanced GPS in partnership with Motorola.
In February 2009, CSR announced it was merging with SiRF, the biggest global supplier of GPS chips, in a share deal worth $136 million.
In July 2010, CSR announced the acquisition of Belfast-based APT Licensing Ltd. (APT) and its aptX audio technology.
In February 2011, CSR announced it was merging with Zoran, a video and imaging technology company.
In May 2012, CSR acquired Direct Digital Feedback Amplifier (DDFA) technology, a proprietary, highly scalable digital Class-D audio amplifier technology.
In June 2012, CSR announced that it has completed an asset purchase agreement to acquire the MAPX (formerly MAP-X) audio product line from Trident Microsystems, Inc.
In July 2012, Samsung Electronics agreed to acquire CSR's mobile phone connectivity (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) and location (GPS/GNSS) businesses and associated IP for US$310 million (£198 million). As part of the deal Samsung acquired a stake of 4.9% in CSR.
In June 2014, CSR acquired the people and technology of Reciva, a networked audio streaming platform, for US$5 million.
In October 2014, the acquisition of CSR by Qualcomm for $2.5 billion was agreed. The transaction was completed in August 2015.
Products
CSR’s products included platform solutions for Bluetooth, GPS, FM broadcasting, Wi-Fi, audio, imaging, and ARM processors. After the Zoran merger, CSR also made digital imaging products based on the MIPS architecture.
CSR’s technologies were used in devices such as mobile phones, automotive infotainment and telematics systems, personal navigation devices (PNDs), Bluetooth headsets and headphone, personal computers (PCs), tablets, GPS recreational devices, digital cameras, gaming devices and personal and commercial tracking applications.
Offices
CSR had 26 offices in 12 countries: