News
Issue #2003 - 20 (June 2003)
(Updated June 30, 2003)

MARKET OUTLOOK & TRENDS

Home Networking to Get standardized and Easier?

A new group calling itself DHWG -- for Digital Home Working Group -- was launched recently in San Francisco with the aim of simplifying home networking. Main objective of 17 leading high-tech companies that formed the working group is to formulate guidelines which, if followed, will make music players, televisions, computers, video cameras, printers, stereos, set-top boxes, mobile phones, handheld computers, DVD players, and other devices interoperate.

DHWG will not create new technologies but instead issue guidelines. The timetable for these guidelines is quite ambitious. The first set of guidelines is expected by the end of the year, and compliant products with a logo showing that they meet the group's guidelines will ship in late 2004. The range of companies joining the group is impressive: Intel, Sony, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Gateway, Nokia, Matsushita, Sharp, Samsung Electronics, Thomson, Philips, and others. The group intends to involve other industries, such as automobiles, and also plans to address digital rights management, which content providers such as movie studios, music labels, and others seek as defense against piracy.

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: Home networking involves products from a number of consumer entertainment and computer companies. With the emergence of convergence of these devices and desire of service providers to download in real time entertainment content, there is a distinct need to network multiple devices. Wireless networking - Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other emerging technologies, will vie for a role in this space. Emergence of an industry group to establish guidelines is absolutely timely. 

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of Securities Exchange act of 1934 in USA. Similar provisions exist in other countries. There is no assurance that the stipulated plans of vendors will be implemented. MobileInfo does not warrant the authenticity of the information. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.