Looks like Google’s on an audio startup shopping for spree

Over the previous yr or so, Google has been shopping for up a number of audio {hardware} startups, in keeping with a recent report from Protocol. The incontrovertible fact that Google’s estimated to have spent tens of thousands and thousands on startups and patent portfolios of corporations engaged on audio {hardware}, 3D audio, noise cancellation, and Bluetooth tech might trace that it’s planning on increasing its lineup of audio merchandise. In many instances, it’s reportedly introduced on staff from the businesses as effectively.

Google isn’t any stranger to the world of audio merchandise. It’s offered a number of fashions and generations of wi-fi earbuds, and it manufacturers its Nest Audio good speaker as being “all about sound.” But for the time being, it doesn’t have the identical vary of choices as rivals like Apple or Bose — the acquisitions might assist put Google in a greater place to create merchandise like on-ear headphones or extra feature-rich earbuds.

Some of the hires and job listings that the report talks about level in direction of the concept Google may be constructing customized silicon for audio merchandise. That method might make sense. Apple’s headphones use a customized chip, and Google has a historical past of making specialised {hardware}, designing its personal chips for issues like safety and picture processing. It even created its personal SoC for the Pixel 6.

As Protocol notes, a few of the offers have appeared extra targeted on netting patents moderately than tech or expertise. The string acquisitions began after Sonos sued Google (twice) for patent infringement referring to good speaker tech. Google lately needed to take away some options from sure good dwelling units, due to a choose’s ruling that it had certainly infringed on Sonos’ patents — it’s onerous to think about that Google desires to maintain making present or future merchandise worse due to mental property disputes. Having a set of its personal audio patents might assist forestall that sooner or later.