Synaptics to acquire DSP Group

Synaptics is to acquire DSP Group, a global provider of voice and wireless chipset solutions for converged communications.

DSP has developed a strong position across multiple markets in the Internet of Audio Things (IoAT) with significant growth opportunities in low power SmartVoice, unified communications and collaboration, and wireless IoT devices – most of which are relevant to Synaptics’ existing customer base and will further its strategy of cross-selling portfolio devices.

Synaptics recently announced its Low Power Edge AI initiative, which opens a significant long-term opportunity with ABI research predicting approximately 2.5 billion TinyML units could be sold by 2030. The addition of DSP Group’s SmartVoice products to Synaptics’ Katana smart vision platform is seen as helping to create a complete portfolio that will be able to serve both existing customer needs and address future market developments.

In addition, the combination further strengthens Synaptics’ industry-leading wireless connectivity portfolio by adding DECT Ultra Low Energy (ULE), which enables a fully-featured intelligent home security solution.

“We continue to invest in technologies that tilt our product mix toward IoT applications,” said Michael Hurlston, President and CEO of Synaptics. “DSP Group’s expertise in SmartVoice and ULE wireless solutions, coupled with Synaptics’ leadership position in far-field speech recognition and IoT directed Wi-Fi/BT combos enables us to deliver increasingly differentiated solutions to our combined customer base, while positioning us to lead the transition to AI enabled devices at the edge of the network.”