CEA Takes Look at Mobile Video Standards

The Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA) has formed a discussion group to weigh interest in
establishing industry technical standards for portable and handheld devices,
such as MP3 players, GPS devices, video displays and cameras. CEA will hold a
Discovery Group meeting to consider the issue at its Industry Forum on Tuesday,
October 21, 2008. The meeting will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and
Casino in Las Vegas, NV from 8:00 a.m. to
10:00 a.m. PDT.

An industry standard for portable and handheld devices could make it easier for
consumers to connect these devices with home audio and video systems,
in-vehicle audio, video and navigation systems and other consumer electronics
(CE) products. CEA already operates nine standards formulating groups covering
a broad spectrum of CE products, from in-home audio, video and home networking
systems to in-vehicle information and entertainment systems.

“Portable and handheld devices continue to change the way consumers collect,
store and share audio, pictures, video and other information, ” said Brian
Markwalter, CEA vice president, Technology and Standards. “In many cases
consumers would like to attach these devices to other CE products to enhance
their experiences. CEA wants to explore whether industry technical standards
might enable more robust connectivity between portable devices and other
products, and whether such connectivity might help to grow consumers ’ interest
in such products. ”

Participation in CEA standards and
activities is open to any company, organization or individual with direct and
material interest. CEA invites specific ideas for industry standards related to
portable and handheld devices at the Discovery Group meeting at Industry Forum.
Contact Dave Wilson at 703-907-7421 to request time on the agenda to discuss a
specific standards proposal. CEA membership is not required to participate in
the meeting.