This paper describes a multi-rate codec family developed as a potential candidate for the GSM adaptive multi-rate (AMR) codec standard. The codec family consists of the GSM enhanced full rate (EFR) codec and lower bit-rate extensions thereof. The codec family consists of several codecs, i.e., modes that have different bit-rate partitionings between source coding and error protection. All the source codecs use the same ACELP-method (algebraic code excited linear predictive coding) used also in the GSM EFR codec. The codec operates at gross bit-rates of 22.8 kbit/s in the GSM full rate (FR) channel and 11.4 kbit/s in the GSM half rate (HR) channel. In the full rate channel, the codec provides improved error robustness over the GSM enhanced full rate (EFR) codec. It extends wireline quality (equal to or better than G.726-32 ADPCM) to poor channel error conditions with low C/I-ratios of 7 dB or even below. When operated in the half rate channel, the codec provides improved channel capacity while still providing wireline quality at high C/I-ratios above 16-19 dB.