Company Overview

Audience is a leader in Advanced Voice technology, based on our pioneering work to reverse-engineer functions of the human hearing system and emulate its complex processes on a system-on-chip. We’re applying this auditory expertise to innovate “brain-inspired” technologies that deliver higher clarity and sound quality for mobile voice and enhanced performance for speech-based services and applications in nearly any environment.

Our goal is to redefine the mobile voice and sound quality standard, harnessing the power of auditory neuroscience to improve the products that we rely on every day to communicate, and stay connected to people, information and entertainment.  Our earSmart™ Advanced Voice processors use the science of human hearing to instinctively “hear” and distinguish sounds, isolate and enhance the voice signal, and suppress surrounding noise and echoes – from both ends of a call.  earSmart technology gives mobile devices auditory intelligence, making them acutely aware of their surroundings and providing leading-edge signal processing capabilities to deliver clear voice and enhanced sound quality even in noisy settings.

We are using this auditory expertise to drive a new category of Advanced Voice, applying our brain-inspired technology to enable the rapidly growing array of mobile voice-based applications, delivering:

  • Higher clarity for communications, from hands-free speakerphone, to video or Wi-Fi® calls
  • Better accuracy and performance for speech recognition services
  • Enhanced sound quality for multimedia capture, from video recording to voice memos, as well as audio playback
    for music to TV

Supporting new ways to communicate, the latest broadband services, and the growth of the smart device market, from mobile phones to tablets, our technology is enabling an improved voice and audio experience across all usage modes and situations.  Our earSmart processors continue to break new ground to keep pace with ever-changing technology.  Because today, mobile voice goes way beyond phone calls.

Audience Achievements

  • earSmart voice processors are featured in over 50 handsets from leading brands such as Samsung, LG, HTC, Sharp, and Pantech, offered by AT&T, Docomo, SKT, and more.
  • Audience introduced its voice technology in the U.S. market with the Nexus One phone from Google/HTC in January, 2010. 
  • Audience expanded its U.S. presence by bringing its patented earSmart technology to a wide selection of AT&T mobile phones, starting in the spring of 2010.
  • Audience’s first DSP voice processor launched in April 2008 at the CTIA Wireless trade show.
  • Audience has earned industry recognition for its innovations:  named to the FierceWireless “Fierce 15” 2011 list of top privately-held wireless companies recognized for industry innovation; selected a short-list nominee for the 2011 GSMA Global Mobile Awards – Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough for technological achievement and innovation; selected as the Silver Winner in the 2008 Wall Street Journal “Technology Innovation Awards”, and winner of the Semiconductor Category; winner of the 2008 GSMA Mobile Innovation Global Award for “Most Innovative True Mobile Start-up”.

Future Opportunities
Looking ahead, advancements in speech recognition, combined with our voice enhancement and noise suppression technology, will position voice as the next generation user interface for mobile products.  In addition to touch or tap, voice will provide a natural, intuitive interface, for a more efficient means to interact with feature-rich devices.  With voice interaction, consumers will have faster, easier access to communications, location-aware services, information, and entertainment, across mobile devices and new ways to engage with other products.

Investors
Investors in Audience include New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Tallwood Venture Capital, Vulcan Capital, and VentureTech Alliance.