Technology talks – Now available: the Qualcomm Smart Headset Reference Design for Amazon Alexa Voice Service

To invent breakthrough technologies that transform how the world connects, computes, and communicates, Qualcomm believes that it's important to enable our customers and partners to compete and innovate. Thus, we're pleased to introduce the Qualcomm Smart Headset Development Kit for Amazon Alexa Voice Service (AVS), supporting push-button activation for AVS for an Android phone that has the Amazon Alexa App installed.

People are embracing voice UI

Over the last few years, we’ve seen new trends emerge in audio consumption, from streaming to voice UI to audio everywhere (at home and on-the-go). As a result, consumers are holding audio technology to higher standards, and these evolving expectations are influencing the way manufacturers develop devices.

In order to better enable our customers to meet the changing demands of consumers, Qualcomm Technologies International worked with OnePoll to survey 6,000 American, British, and Chinese adult smartphone users about their listening habits, the current state of wireless personal audio, and their purchasing drivers (2018 State of Play Report).

One of the key findings is that 78% of those surveyed stated that using voice to interface with their electronic devices does or would make life easier — an increase of 35% compared with the 2017 State of Play report. We expect to see manufacturers increasingly launch new, exciting, and innovative products and services which reflect these findings.

Amazon AVS

This first available end-to-end Bluetooth reference design supports push-button activation for AVS for an Android phone that has the Amazon Alexa App installed. Based on Qualcomm Technologies’ advanced Bluetooth Audio SoC QCC5124, the solution combines ultra-low-power consumption to help extend playback time and battery life. Qualcomm cVc Noise Cancellation Technology supports active noise cancellation and superior audio quality while in a voice call. Manufacturers can add Qualcomm aptX Audio HD designed for high-resolution wireless audio.

Qualcomm Smart Headset Reference Design for Amazon AVS in box:

• Occluded earbuds with ear interface rubbers available from a 3^rd party
• Qualcomm QCC5124 BGA90, 1 in right side
• Flexy rigid PCB design in both sides
• 2 mic CVC voice echo noise cancellation right side
• 60mA battery per side
• Micro USB charging – right side
• Software binary image - ADK-based Stereo Sink application supporting Amazon AVS

Following evaluation via this reference design, manufacturers can then step up to the full development environment with a comprehensive suite of software and tools to customize or develop their own headset products.

Qualcomm Smart Headset Development Kit for Amazon AVS is the first to support the Alexa Mobile Accessory (AMA) protocol. AMA runs over Bluetooth wireless technology and enables users to easily connect their Bluetooth-enabled audio devices with Alexa, using the Amazon Alexa App on Android or iOS devices. This means device makers no longer need to integrate with AVS or to add any communication hardware beyond Bluetooth, which reduces cost and accelerates time to market. At a high level, AMA enables AVS to send speech from the accessory to the Alexa service and a control service for exchanging control messages between the accessory and the Amazon Alexa App.