Smart media platform features Bluetooth to WiFi re-streaming

AllPlay provides consumers with multiple streaming options, including a feature to combine both Bluetooth and WiFi whole home streaming. Now, all local or cloud-based music on a consumer’s smartphone can be streamed to any Bluetooth-compatible AllPlay speaker and then re-streamed over WiFi to multiple AllPlay speakers, all in synch. This allows simple wireless connectivity to individual speakers or an entire home audio system over the user’s existing home WiFi network. This functionality provides a distinct advantage over Bluetooth-only speakers, which are limited to one-to-one streaming.

The Hitachi WiFi speakers offer seamless streaming of high-quality local and cloud-based audio content, with the high performance and versatility of WiFi and the convenience of Bluetooth.

“Our adoption of the Qualcomm AllPlay platform for our networked audio portfolio further showcases our commitment to bringing consumers products with truly exceptional sound quality, reliability and ease-of-use in the wireless whole-home audio category,” said Bill Whalen, Director Product Development, Hitachi America, Digital Media Division. “We’re dedicated to providing consumers with easy to use, high-quality audio products, and the AllPlay platform allows us to do just that.”

“The range and capacity of WiFi coupled with the ubiquity of Bluetooth is a game-changing combination for manufacturers and consumers alike,” said Sy Choudhury, Senior Director of Product Management, Qualcomm Connected Experiences. “AllPlay device manufacturers like Hitachi and Monster, which introduced its SoundStage line of AllPlay-powered speakers at Best Buy last month, can now offer their customers more connectivity options and access to myriad streaming services throughout their home with this new capability.”

In addition to the platform advances, even more audio equipment manufacturers have announced plans to introduce AllPlay products, including ASUSTeK, Vestel and Magnat.

The AllPlay platform is built upon the AllJoyn software framework, an open source software and services framework and collaborative open source project of the AllSeen Alliance. AllJoyn enables hardware manufacturers and software developers to create interoperable products that can discover, connect and communicate directly with other AllJoyn-enabled products.