Answers to Commonly Asked
Questions About Auracast™
Broadcast Audio

Could you please share details about home speaker use cases?

A simple use case for a smart home speaker is to have direct audio to earbuds and hearing aids for alarms, alerts, or when a “Hey Siri..” question is answered. This can significantly benefit those with hearing loss. The same applies for other alerts in the home like doorbells, etc.

Is the Bluetooth SIG working with the ADA to address ALS hearing requirements for Auracast^™ broadcast audio ?

Yes. The Bluetooth SIG is engaging with advocacy organizations like the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and other key stakeholders on direction and strategies to address ADA and ALS hearing requirements.

Auracast^™ broadcast audio looks like a profile on top of LE Audio. Do you foresee LE Audio replacing standard Bluetooth Classic, especially for the audio streaming profile?

Auracast^™ broadcast audio is a specific set of requirements that uses the Public Broadcast Profile (PBP) specification for a universal format and availability of a public broadcast. PBP is one of the LE Audio specifications. For LE Audio, along with new use cases like broadcast, it will support all use cases currently supported by Bluetooth^® Classic Audio. However, transition and timing will be determined by manufacturer roadmap and consumer demand.

Does an Auracast^™ transmitter that is meant for private (home) use have to follow same guidelines as the ones meant for public use?

All devices that carry the Auracast^™ brand name will need to follow the requirements in the Brand Guide for Bluetooth Trademarks. We believe it is important that the home transmitter and the public transmitter follow the same Auracast^™ requirements. This way, consumers are assured they can listen to both public and private Auracast^™ broadcasts from their same receiver devices.

Hearing aid accessories that convert Auracast^™ broadcast audio into a neck loop can give users with older hearing aids access to the Auracast^™ broadcast audio. Hopefully, someone will develop this.

Yes. We believe this to be an Auracast^™ product type that should be available in the market. Availability will be driven by consumer demand.

Is Auracast^™ broadcast audio mandatory for a Bluetooth LE Audio-compatible device?

No. Auracast^™ broadcast audio is an optional capability and brand. However, we encourage all source and sink devices to support Auracast^™ broadcast audio to ensure the widest set of capabilities for consumer devices.

Are there plans for television manufacturers to build in LE Audio?

It is our understanding that TV manufacturers are implementing LE Audio and Auracast^™ broadcast audio into their products and solutions.

What is the practical coverage area of Auracast^™ broadcast audio in public space, such as an airport gate?

There are many factors that determine coverage, including location architecture, antennae design, location and output power of the transmitter, and others. With a centrally located, high-output power transmitter, it is anticipated that coverage will be far more than what you may experience normally with personal source and sink devices (e.g., smartphone and headphones).

What is the main difference between LE Audio and Auracast^™ broadcast audio?

LE Audio is the underlying Bluetooth^® audio architecture for the LE radio. LE Audio contains specifications for using broadcast audio. Auracast^™ broadcast audio is a specific and unified implementation of broadcast audio for personal audio sharing and broadcasting audio in public spaces. Following both the LE Audio specification and the Auracast^™ requirements ensures all Auracast^™ transmitters and receivers will interoperate together, globally.

Are test houses ready to get first Auracast^™ designs certified?

Test house are prepared to test and qualify for LE Audio. Auracast^™ requirements are contained in the Brand Guide for Bluetooth Trademarks. Any test house should be able to verify your implementation meets the Auracast^™ broadcast audio requirements.

As someone considering new assistive listening technology deployment in their location today, say within six months, would you recommend Auracast^™ broadcast audio as an option?

Yes. Currently, depending on your use case, we recommend you consider Auracast^™ broadcast audio along with other ALS systems to ensure the broadest availability of ALS technology to the user. Several assistive listening system providers are developing Auracast^™ transmitters and systems along with existing technology.

In big public areas, would it be needed to also indicate where the broadcaster is located to avoid the user moving too far away and lose quality/audio?

Helping the user understand the intended coverage area is important. Depending on the size, location, and architecture of the public space, the intended coverage area can vary. It is recommended you test the intended coverage area to maximize your deployment.

Any estimate when Auracast^™ broadcast audio may be available on Android or iOS?

Android has already announced its support for LE Audio in Android 13. Apple has yet to make a public announcement.

Is Auracast^™ broadcast audio part of the operating system or will it be a third-party app?

We anticipate settings and configuration for Auracast^™ broadcast audio will be integrated into the OS user experience, similar to WiFi and Bluetooth^® technology today. Applications may also take advantage, depending on the developer APIs exposed by the OS.

Are there any expectations around when we will start seeing LE Audio features, including Auracast^™ broadcast audio, BASS, etc., become readily available to the public in mobile devices and other CE devices?

We anticipate the availability of LE Audio and Auracast^™ broadcast audio devices will ramp up in early 2023.

Would venues like schools, auditoriums, and theaters that could not afford technologies like T-coils find Auracast^™ broadcast audio more economical?

It is our belief that the implementation of an Auracast^™ system can greatly simplify installation and support for assistive listening. This will depend on the implementation. We recommend consulting an ALS system provider and installer for more detail.

Can an earbud support Bluetooth Classic (for streaming and phone calls) and Auracast^™ broadcast audio only for broadcast reception?

Yes. This will be dependent on the manufacturer’s implementation and capabilities.

How does multi-language work? Do you broadcast multiple audio streams in each language?

Yes. Each language would be a separate broadcast stream that can be identified by an Auracast^™ assistant or the receiving device.

How many streams can a location support, and are there any restrictions?

Theoretically, there is no restriction to the number of streams or the number of transmitters that can be supported at a location. There may be resource limitations on the transmitter itself. However, that does not preclude another transmitter from broadcasting additional audio streams at the location.

Can Auracast^™ broadcast audio share not only for audio but video in the future?

Today, Auracast^™ broadcast audio is focused on broadcasting the audio from a video, not the video itself.

Can we control the overspill when using Auracast^™ broadcast audio as a one-to-one counter system so others nearby cannot listen in?

Auracast^™ broadcast audio is capable of using broadcast codes for secure conversations. Managing output power and spillover alone does not guarantee privacy.  The use of broadcast codes is recommended for private access.

Can Bluetooth technology and Auracast^™ broadcast audio work at the same time?

Yes. Auracast^™ broadcast audio is a Bluetooth^® technology. Auracast^™ broadcast audio will work alongside traditional Bluetooth use cases.

To learn more, check out these great Auracast^™ resources.