CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announces that Microchip Technology Inc. has launched its new Bluetooth® Smart module based on the CSR1012™ solution. Microchip is a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions and has developed the BLE RN4020 module, an easy and complete turnkey solution, which takes CSR’s industry proven and highly flexible Bluetooth Smart ICs to a wider range of customers.

The FCC and ETSI compliant module gives developers access to CSR’s market-leading Bluetooth Smart technology. The module is supported by Microchip’s MPLAB® X Integrated Development Environment, which provides developers with access to a large library of example Bluetooth Smart development code. This eases and accelerates prototype production and enables developers to get their products to market quicker.

Microchip chose CSR as a Bluetooth Smart chip supplier due to CSR’s strong reputation for Bluetooth technology and because the two companies share an established history of supporting customers through to the end of a product’s lifecycle.

“CSR is helping fuel innovation and the growth of new consumer products by making its Bluetooth Smart solutions accessible to as wide a developer base as possible,” said Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President, Business Group at CSR. “This module makes Bluetooth Smart incredibly simple to use. It will enable both starter and more experienced developers to easily and quickly develop a range of devices from health and fitness monitors to retail beacons and smart home appliances that will power the fast growing Internet of Things.”

CSR1012 provides a smaller form factor package ensuring that the module has minimal impact on size constrained designs. Measuring 11.5 x 19.5 x 2.5mm, the RN4020 module has a built-in PCB antenna with 7 dBm transmit power and a receive sensitivity of -92.5 dBm, enabling operation over 100 metres.

BLE RN4020 is available now and can be purchased from Microchip’s website.