Frontier Smart Technologies to power audio devices for US brands

Digital radio company Frontier Smart Technologies is to power nine new smart audio devices using Google's Chromecast technology built-in for three US brands, Brookstone, Jensen and Solis.

Brookstone will use Frontier's Minuet platform for four new wireless speakers in its Big Blue range, and the first two products are already on sale with the next two are expected to be in sale by spring.

Jensen, an audio brand owned by Spectra Merchandising International, has launched two bluetooth and wi-fi wireless stereo smart speakers, JSB-1000 and JSB-2000, which incorporate Frontier’s Minuet solution, and Solis, also owned by Spectra, has launched three wireless stereo smart speakers with Minuet.

Frontier works with technology giant Google on its Chromecast platform, which allows smart speakers to stream via wi-fi over 150 online music services, such as Spotify, Pandora and iHeartRadio, and has updated its software, so that all products work with Google Assistant, meaning they can be controlled by through a Google Home device.

Frontier chief executive Anthony Sethill said: "By combining our audio technology expertise, our relationship with Google and our experience of working with leading audio brands and their manufacturers, we have helped deliver an unrivalled range of smart audio speakers.”

Spectra president Patricia Schoenberg said that the company spent months evaluating the opportunities to launch multi-room streaming speakers and chose Frontier with its Chromecast built-in, because the company believed it was the “best technology for our considerable investment in these new products for both our Jensen and Solis brands”.