CSR
CSR designed and developed silicon and software for the global consumer electronics market, supplying Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, audio codec, and media processing chipsets to OEMs of mobile handsets, headsets, automotive infotainment, and imaging devices from its Cambridge, UK headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CSR does
CSR plc was a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, that designed and developed silicon and software for the global consumer electronics market. Founded in 1998 and listed on the London Stock Exchange (now delisted), it built its early identity around Bluetooth radio silicon — supplying single-chip Bluetooth solutions into mobile handsets, headsets, and personal computing platforms — and used a sustained acquisition program to broaden its technology base into adjacent wireless and consumer SoC domains.
Through five acquisitions between 2005 and 2011 — UbiNetics (VPT), Cambridge Positioning Systems ($35M) and NordNav Technologies ($75M) in 2007, SiRF Technology in 2009, aptX in 2010, and Zoran in 2011 for $679M — CSR assembled an integrated portfolio spanning Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS/GNSS, audio codecs, imaging, and media processing. The Zoran deal was the largest, extending the company from connectivity silicon into media and imaging SoCs for cameras, set-top boxes, and related consumer categories.
CSR's business model was that of a fabless wireless and media silicon vendor: it licensed and sold reference designs, chipsets, and IP to OEMs and consumer electronics manufacturers globally, with go-to-market through design wins in mobile handsets, headsets, automotive infotainment, and consumer imaging. Operational scale at peak was in the 5,001–10,000 employee range. The company is now reflected as a delisted entity in the supplied data, with Qualcomm referenced as the associated acquirer of record.
CSR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CSR
- Website
- https://csr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- CSR designed and developed silicon and software for the global consumer electronics market, supplying Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, audio codec, and media processing chipsets to OEMs of mobile handsets, headsets, automotive infotainment, and imaging devices from its Cambridge, UK headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CSR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wireless Connectivity Semiconductors
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (3343)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS) (HDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display) (HDAHABAH), Networking & Data Center Silicon (Switch/NIC/DPU/SerDes) (HDAHABAB), RF Transceivers & RFIC SoCs (Cellular/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth) (HDAHAMAE)
Keywords
Where CSR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
CSR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
CSR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CSR designs and develops silicon chips and accompanying software for the consumer electronics market, with core focus areas in wireless connectivity (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, FM), location/GPS, audio (aptX codec), and imaging/video processing. The company sells these as integrated system-on-chip platforms to OEMs serving mobile handsets, headsets, automotive infotainment, and home consumer electronics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CSR connectivity silicon and software platforms
Companies that use CSR
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
CSR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CSR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CSR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NXP Semiconductors: Automotive and connectivity chipmaker whose NFC, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and GNSS offerings overlap with parts of CSR's portfolio, especially in automotive and IoT applications.
- Qualcomm: Mobile and connectivity SoC giant whose application processors and RF/connectivity modems compete directly with CSR's Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chips and integrated connectivity silicon across smartphone and CE OEMs.
- MediaTek: Smartphone and connected device SoC vendor whose integrated connectivity and multimedia capabilities compete with CSR across handsets, smart home and CE platforms.
- STMicroelectronics: Broad European semiconductor incumbent whose Bluetooth/Wi-Fi modules and audio/MEMS products place it in the same wireless connectivity and CE silicon space as CSR.
- Texas Instruments: Broad semiconductor incumbent with wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth) and audio DSP product lines that overlap CSR's connectivity and audio silicon portfolios.
Direct peers
- Broadcom: A leading supplier of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity combo chips, directly competing with CSR's core connectivity SoC franchise in handsets, PCs and CE devices.
- Nordic Semiconductor: Pure-play fabless designer of low-power Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular IoT SoCs; directly competes with CSR in Bluetooth short-range wireless for audio, wearables and IoT.
- Realtek Semiconductor: Fabless semiconductor supplier of Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo chips and audio codecs for PCs, CE and TV, directly comparable to CSR's connectivity and aptX-style audio codec assets.
Emerging players
- Skyworks Solutions: RF semiconductor specialist whose wireless front-end and connectivity components overlap with CSR's RF/wireless connectivity silicon at handset and CE OEMs.
- Marvell Technology: Silicon vendor with Wi-Fi and networking connectivity products that intersect CSR's wireless connectivity portfolio, particularly in home and enterprise networking.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CSR social profiles
Digital presenceCSR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CSR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CSR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CSR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CSR
What does CSR do?
CSR designs and develops silicon chips and accompanying software for the consumer electronics market, with core focus areas in wireless connectivity (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, FM), location/GPS, audio (aptX codec), and imaging/video processing. The company sells these as integrated system-on-chip platforms to OEMs serving mobile handsets, headsets, automotive infotainment, and home consumer electronics.
When was CSR founded?
CSR was founded in 1998. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is CSR based?
CSR is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are CSR's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NXP Semiconductors, Qualcomm, MediaTek, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments. Direct peers are Broadcom, Nordic Semiconductor and Realtek Semiconductor. Emerging players are Skyworks Solutions and Marvell Technology.
Does CSR have an API?
No public API is recorded for CSR.
What industry is CSR in?
CSR's product category is Wireless Connectivity Semiconductors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHABAA, Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS), with a secondary code of HDAHABAH, Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.