CEA to discuss standards for portable and handheld devices

CEA Invites Industry to Discovery Group Meeting During Industry Forum

ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® today announced the formation of 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.