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South Korea's most global brand shines in troubled times
Mon Feb 18, 8:52 PM ET
By SANG-HUN CHOE, Associated Press Writer
SEOUL, South Korea - Half of all South Korean consumers sit in front of Samsung television sets, keep food in Samsung refrigerators, chatter on Samsung cellphones and surf the Internet on Samsung computers, eyes glued to monitors bearing the same trademark.
And they probably bought it all with Samsung credit cards.
Samsung, the world's biggest seller of computer memory chips, flat panel screens, monitors, VCRs and electric ranges, is the only remaining South Korean conglomerate, or chaebol, to stand tall after the Asian currency crisis of the late 1990s.
Daewoo, once South Korea's No. 3 conglomerate, is in pieces. Giant Hyundai has splintered under heavy debt, its motor and shipbuilding units alone retaining their luster.
Now, Samsung 's innovative handheld devices and home appliances have boosted its name recognition to levels that rival Nokia, Sony, and Philips.
No longer is the company considered merely a cheap alternative to precision Japanese goods.
"Samsung is one of the few Asian companies outside Japan that has succeeded in establishing itself as a global brand," said Tim Condon, a Hong Kong-based economist for securities firm ING Barings.
With domestic rivals foundering, Samsung is now biggest and most lucrative family run business group in this nation that President George W. Bush is visiting this week.
Honeymooners dream of spending their first night together at ritzy Samsung hotels and thereafter, in modern Samsung apartments. One-fifth of South Korea's 47 million people visited Samsung's amusement park last year.
Samsung-Renault's SM-5 cars, built with Nissan technology, are the most sought-after model. Drivers take out Samsung insurance policies.
"Samsung will soon start rivaling Sony in brand power as a consumer electronics maker, if it hasn't already," said Jin Young-hoon, an industry analyst at Seoul's Daishin Securities Co.
As part of its push into more innovative, higher-quality goods, Samsung recently ditched mass-market discounters such as Wal-Mart as a major retailer of its products.
In China's exploding cell phone market, Samsung now shuns the low-end market. Its latest model sells for dlrs 615, more then twice the average monthly pay of a Chinese worker.
In the U.S. market, its DVD players, cell phones, flat panel screens and digital TV sets are as expensive and well-received as Japanese products.
Last year, Samsung's 35 subsidiaries produced a combined dlrs 94.6 billion in sales, an 8.9 percent drop from 2000. Total profits dropped 20 percent to dlrs 5.1 billion. Still, it was an impressive performance in a year when painful losses humbled many global giants.
Inside South Korea, Samsung strives for a distinct corporate culture. Unlike more flamboyant counterparts at Hyundai and Daewoo, Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee rarely appears in public. His workers are dapper and polite.
Thousands of police officers, railway conductors and bank clerks attend Samsung's "Service Academy" to learn to bow and answer customer questions. Samsung's early work shift allows workers to avoid rush-hour traffic jams.
Critics say Samsung would be even stronger — and more attractive to investors — if it opened its business practices to public scrutiny. Typical of South Korean conglomerates, or chaebol, analysts say Samsung has engaged in its share of questionable dealings and used cozy ties with politicians to its benefit.
"Samsung Electronics is the crown jewel of Korea Inc.," said Jang Hasung, an economist at Seoul's Korea University. "But investors question its corporate governance. That's why its shares are so seriously devalued, compared to its U.S. and even Taiwanese competitors, which are not doing nearly as well."
Samsung Electronics, the conglomerate's most globalized outfit, saw net profits halve to dlrs 2.3 billion last year on revenues of dlrs 24.8 billion.
Yet with dlrs 538 million in profits from semiconductor sales, Samsung Electronics was the only major computer-memory chip maker to earn a profit last year.
Plunging chip prices pushed competitors like Micron Technology, Hynix and Infineon into the red.
Last year, the company lowered its dependence on lower-end computer memory, which has plummeted in price, focusing more on Rambus and DDR memory chips for newer, faster computers.
At the same time, Samsung Electronics' telecommunications division overtook the semiconductor arm in revenue, selling 29 million handsets worth dlrs 5.4 billion.
"It was with cell phones that Samsung could finally cast off its consumer image as a mass producer of cheap goods," said Michael Min of Seoul's Korea Investment Trust Management & Securities.
Samsung now is a distant fourth in the cellular phone market dominated by Nokia and Motorola.
But its share is creeping up. The company makes some of the world's slimmest phones. Some feature video-capable color screens, others double as MP3 players.
In the U.S. market, Samsung has provided Sprint PCS, the fourth-largest U.S. wireless carrier, with 8 million phones since 1997. In January, it signed a new dlrs 3 billion deal with Sprint to sell even more phones.
The company is branching out into home networking, promising to unveil new products this fall — in alliance with Microsoft — that will merge computers, televisions and other digital home media.
It also began producing 'Nexio' handheld computers that double as mobile phones.
James Chung, a spokesman for Samsung Electronics, puts it simply:
"We want to lead the way in innovation."
The ABC's of In-Dash MP3's
Sun Feb 17, 3:08 PM ET
By IVAN BERGER The New York Times
CARS have taken the names of all sorts of places and things, but the Mazda MP3 is probably the first model to be named after a feature of its sound system.
That system (a Kenwood Excelon) plays not only regular compact discs but also discs carrying music in a highly compressed digital format called MP3. A single such disc can hold 10 hours or so of music, more than you'd get from six regular CD's in the optional changer of the Mazda. Not only that, but the system can display the name of each track as it plays.
These are not discs you can buy in your local record store or listen to on most home or car CD players. But you can make your own on any computer that can record (or "burn") blank CD's, and play them on computers, some home equipment and MP3-compatible car players made by most leading makers of car stereos, including Aiwa, Alpine, Audiovox, Blaupunkt, Clarion, Eclipse, Jensen, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer, Rockford-Fosgate, Sony and Visteon. The players are available as original equipment on a few vehicles, including the Ford Mustang and F-150 pickup.
To get music in the MP3 format, you can copy ("rip") tracks from your own CD's. Free software for doing this is widely available. Or you can download music files from the Internet. Downloading is what made MP3 famous or infamous, from the standpoint of the music industry.
Music converted to MP3 data files can be transmitted relatively quickly over modems. As a result, the Internet has been humming for three years or so with music, most of it free, from a variety of sources.
Some MP3 tracks are deliberately posted to the World Wide Web by little-known artists struggling for exposure, but many more are commercial recordings posted without the permission of those who hold the copyrights. A series of lawsuits has changed the picture, and many free music sources are drying up or, like Napster, are converting to paid subscription services.
The sound quality of MP3 discs doesn't quite match that of regular CD's. But the difference in fidelity can be so small that few listeners will detect it, especially amid the noise in a moving car.
Considering how much data is subtracted from regular CD signals when converting them to MP3, the only reason there is so much music left is that MP3 is a "perceptual coding" system, designed with human hearing in mind.
Perceptual coding works because some musical sounds "mask" others from our hearing, the way the Mazda MP3 would be obscured from view if it were parked behind a bus. Perceptual coders first discard sounds that masking would make inaudible, then make the music even more compact by shaving away the least audible remaining parts, little by little, until the file shrinks to the desired size (a function of the music's length and the number of bits per second in the signal, the "bit rate").
The more that is removed, the smaller the resulting computer file and the lower the sound quality. The bit rates generally considered the best tradeoff between shrinkage and quality are 128 thousand bits per second (kbps), at which the music is compressed to one-eleventh of the size of the same music on a standard CD (or, better, at 160 kbps, which is one-eighth the standard size). If you are picky, you can use higher rates, up to 320 kbps (a mild 4-to-1 data reduction). Lower data rates are also available if storage space and transmission time count more than sonic fidelity.
So far, MP3 is by far the most popular perceptual coder for Internet music transfers, but others now available claim as much as twice the file compression of MP3's with no loss of quality. The best known of these is Microsoft's Windows Media Audio, which can be played by some MP3-compatible Aiwa, Blaupunkt, Kenwood, Pioneer and Visteon car stereos. But another new format claiming this, MP3Pro, can be played on the same equipment used for the original MP3 discs.
If you have downloaded MP3, MP3Pro or Windows Media Audio files, you can play them in your car without buying a whole new stereo. The simplest way is to convert this music to standard CD format before burning new discs from it. (Most CD- burning software provides for this.) That won't bring the sound quality back to true CD levels, but it will make the music available for use on any home or car system that can play home-recorded CD's.
You can also get MP3 players (from Blaupunkt, PhatNoise and others) that hook into your car's stereo system the way a CD changer would. These players store music on portable hard disks that you carry from your car to your computer to reload.
MP3 Camera Turns Digital Pictures into 'Talkies'
Tue Feb 19, 1:11 PM ET
Jay Lyman,
Touting the popularity in Europe and Asia of its wallet-size MP3 player-digital camera combo, Fuji announced the FinePix 30i camera will soon be available in the United States.
Capable of recording and playing back MP3 music and audio, the camera features digital picture annotation that allows users to speak into a built-in microphone and attach 30-second audio notes to digital photos.
Fuji spokesperson Andrew LaGuardia told NewsFactor the camera, priced at US$400, is much cheaper than the previous version of the MP3 camera –- the FinePix 40i, which retailed for about $700. LaGuardia said other improvements include a new imaging chip and an interactive remote control that displays track number and other information on a 1.8-inch, back-lit LCD display.
Photo Essay
The FinePix 30i offers consumers a powerful CCD (charge-coupled device) sensor, with 2.1 million total pixels, for vibrant, color prints of up to 8 inches by 10 inches. The camera can store 20 fine images, 39 normal images and as many as 75 basic images on its bundled 16MB SmartMedia card, according to Fuji.
The camera, which features a five-mode flash, also can double as an MP3 player -– capable of downloading, recording and playing 20 minutes of music. An optional 128MB memory card can hold as much as 160 minutes of music and 272 minutes of digital audio, while the 16MB card, which is included, holds as much as 33 minutes of audio.
Functions Beyond Film
The FinePix 30i is also capable of recording short bursts of AVI (audio/video interleave, a Windows file format) video with sound -– capturing 20-second audio/video clips with 320 by 240 resolution at 10 frames per second.
The camera includes a remote control capable of scrolling through pictures, as well as controlling MP3 playback, volume, camera shutter and digital zoom. It also can stand in as a PC cam for videoconferencing, connecting to PCs via USB, Fuji says.
"This is probably one of the most multifunction digital devices out there," Fuji's LaGuardia said.
Small Package
The FinePix 30i measures 3.3 inches wide by 2.9 inches high by 1.2 inches deep, and weighs less than 6 ounces.
Scheduled to be available for sale in the U.S. in April, the camera retail package comes with two rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, charger, 16MB SmartMedia card, shoulder strap, USB cable, headphones and remote control.
Also included are Apple QuickTime 5.0, VideoImpression, RealJukebox, 2 Plus for Windows and MacMP3 for Macintosh (news - web sites), according to Fuji.
A bewildering array of advanced automotive telematics and allied "infotainment" solutions were displayed at the Jan. 7-12 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, including numerous new products and vendors new to the segment. This underscores market researchers' and Wall Street analysts' glowing predictions that this will be one of the fastest-growing segments in consumer electronics for the next six years at least.
ComROAD With Bluetooth And GPRS In Las Vegas
UNTERSCHLEISSHEIM, GERMANY--(INTERNET WIRE)--Jan 07, 2002-- At the international Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 8 to 11, 2002, ComROAD AG, worldwide leading provider of telematic networks, will present new telematic products using the new standards Bluetooth and GPRS.
In combination with devices by Ericsson, Compaq, Casio and Hewlett Packard, ComROAD AG, at Stand 7473, will present the first telematic solutions worldwide which can be used with the new standards Bluetooth and GPRS.
Bluetooth is a new wireless interface which can be used for data transmission between mobile phones, handheld and in-vehicle computers. GPRS (general packet radio service) is an extension of the GSM mobile radio standard for the high-speed transmission of data packets. GPRS networks have already been set up in many European and Asian countries. The leading US mobile radio service providers have also decided to set up the GSM-GPRS standard with full ground coverage. The companies already running GSM-GPRS networks in many conurbations include Voicestream, Cingular and AT+T. In future, Bluetooth and GPRS will be the standards for all mobile phones and pocket PCs as well as palm PDAs (personal digital assistant). The first Ericsson, Nokia and Compaq devices are already available.
The "wireless killer applications" deciding users to buy a mobile phone or PDA with a new technology and pay monthly fees include: - off-board navigation worldwide - location-based content (location-based information on gas stations, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets) - e-mail communication - interactive games - security functions (emergency)
ComROAD's Global Transport Telematic System (GTTS) offers all these "killer applications". Through licensing the GTTS technology to currently 37 partners, the telematic services are already available to users in 37 countries.
According to an analysis by The Strategis Group, the worldwide number of people using location-based services is expected to increase from 70 million in 2002 to more than 220 million in 2005. As telematic technology provider, ComROAD aims at making available the "killer applications" dynamic off-board navigation, location-based services, e-mail communication and interactive games for any mobile phone user at a good price. As, today, luxury vehicles offer built-in telematic and navigation systems with a large screen, the Bluetooth standard enables the communication of these devices with mobile phones and PDAs and thus the flexible use of telematic services.
ComROAD AG
ComROAD Aktiengesellschaft, established in 1995, is the worldwide leader for the development and commercialization of telematic networks. Through the integration of globally available technologies such as GPS (Global Positioning System), GSM (Global System of Mobile Communication) and web-based information systems, the company has created a worldwide network of telematic services already available in 37 countries. These services include applications in the traffic telematics sector, like security monitoring, fleet management, off-board navigation and road assistance, as well as the provision of communication and information services and web-based office applications for mobile use. Via its headquarters in Unterschleissheim near Munich and further sites in Sarasota, USA, and Hongkong, China, ComROAD AG, which is listed at the stock exchange tier Neuer Markt (Reuters-Code: RD4) ensures the 24/7 operation of telematic control centers in three major world time zones. www.comroad.com.
ComROAD AG - Edisonstr. 8 - 85716 Unterschleissheim, Germany
Clarity, Wind River To Join Forces In WindLink Partnership
TROY, MI--(INTERNET WIRE)--Jan 15, 2002 -- Clarity LLC (www.clarityco.com), a high technology signal processing software company, announced a partnership with Wind River (NASDAQ:WIND - news), a leading provider of embedded software and services, to develop products with robust voice interfaces for the hand-held and wireless markets. Clarity has joined Wind River's WindLink(TM) Partner Program and will develop joint technology demonstrations and pursue co-marketing efforts with Wind River.
Clarity and its CVC(TM) (Clear Voice Capture(TM)) family of software products are complementary to Wind River's product offerings and existing product line. Clarity's goal is to be a leading supplier of software technology that enables voice-driven devices in noisy environments, such as hands-free cell phone cradles, automotive telematics devices, home and consumer electronics products and mobile wireless devices. Wind River and Clarity have enjoyed a partner project in the past with the VoiceTel Commander speech-enabled set top box.
"We look forward to working with Wind River as a WindLink partner to provide their customers with a leading solution for their voice-driven projects," said Fred Nussbaum, Clarity's executive vice-president. "As speech technology continues to improve, less computer power will be required to run voice-based applications, and speech will explode as a ubiquitous interface in countless electronic devices. Clarity will help to make that transition to voice successful by eliminating background noise and echo in all real-world environments," said Nussbaum.
"Clarity's suite of software products will enable Wind River customers to eliminate background noise and acoustic and line echo problems that can be experienced in most all voice-based products including wireless device networks. Clarity's technology will complement Wind River's product portfolio and help our mutual customers in the automotive and consumer markets to deliver first class voice-enabled devices to end users," said Caroline Yao, director of Partner Solutions for Wind River.
ABOUT CLARITY
Clarity is a leading provider of software products that improve the quality and efficiency of voice-activated human-machine interfaces. Clarity, a private, venture-backed company, is entering into co-development alliances and licensing agreements with Original Equipment Manufacturers and suppliers in multiple industries, including automotive telematics providers, semiconductor manufacturers, PC and PDA manufacturers, and telecommunications network operators and device makers worldwide.
ABOUT WIND RIVER'S WINDLINK PROGRAM
The WindLink Partner Program is focused on helping hardware and software developers, system integrators, and consultants create and sell products and services, that complement or are integrated with Wind River products. Wind River continually seeks out partners in strategic market segments such as Internet infrastructure, telecommunications, Internet appliances, consumer electronics, and semiconductors. WindLink partners work hand-in-hand with Wind River to provide total solutions to joint customers.
ABOUT WIND RIVER
Wind River (www.windriver.com) is a worldwide leader in embedded software and services for creating connected devices. Wind River provides software development tools, real-time operating systems, and advanced connectivity for use in products throughout the Internet, telecommunications and data communications, digital imaging, digital consumer electronics, networking, medical, computer peripherals, automotive, industrial automation and control, and aerospace/defense markets. Wind River is How Smart Things Think(TM). Founded in 1983, Wind River is headquartered in Alameda, California, with operations worldwide.
Wind River Systems, the Wind River Systems logo, Tornado, and VxWorks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Wind River Systems, Inc. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or organizations.
Clarity's CVC Technology To Enhance Performance Of Voice-Driven AutoPC
TROY, MI--(INTERNET WIRE)--Jan 07, 2002-- Clarity LLC (www.clarityco.com) announced that it has entered into an agreement with Zandiant Technologies, formerly known as Clarion Advanced Technology Corporation, to supply its CVC(TM) (Clear Voice Capture(TM)) and CEC(TM) (Clear Echo Cancellation(TM)) technologies for enhanced voice user interface of Zandiant products while reducing the price point over existing microphone technologies.
Zandiant AutoPC, a voice-driven in-car multimedia unit, will be the initial development platform for CVC technology. A more advanced multimedia device, which will have different levels of technology and price points in the market, is planned for upcoming production.
Products like the AutoPC are an important part of the growing market for in-vehicle telematics devices. Navigation systems, OnStar infotainment and security, and multi-function PDA's and cell phones, are some of the initial products that can currently be found in the telematics market. Telematics-generated revenues are projected to reach $24 billion worldwide by 2010, and the number of subscribers is expected to be 100 million. "With Clarity being in the backyard of the big three automotive companies, we have assembled a world-class team of telematics experts from OnStar, Visteon, Motorola, Delphi, TI, Cisco, and others. Combined we have launched more than 30 vehicle lines in the telematics marketplace, and the car being a place of consistently high background noise, Clarity is perfectly positioned logistically, technologically and with the expertise to enable the voice interface of booming telematics devices," said Raymond Gunn, president and CEO, Clarity.
Thomas Yamasaki, Director Marketing and Business Development at Zandiant added, "We view the voice interface as a critical aspect of interaction with in-vehicle devices. Zandiant sees a real need to provide a reliable and accurate voice interaction with our installed products and the vehicle occupants and Clarity's software solutions help us get to this goal. We are excited about how their products will enhance the customer experience and acceptance of our products in the telematics market moving forward." Clarity has partnered with Peiker (Germany), Hosiden (Japan) and Comworxx (USA), in response to the recent telematics surge. These key partners have fueled Clarity's capabilities in the telematics field, as it appears to be the single biggest and most immediate market for voice-based technologies (aside from cell phones).
With 70% of all wireless calls being logged while on the road, and recent legislation in New York banning the use of handsets while driving, as well as 40 other states considering similar legislation, Clarity is positioned perfectly to capitalize on this opportunity in the expanding wireless community.
Clarity is a leading provider of software products that improve the quality and efficiency of voice-activated human-machine interfaces. Clarity's primary strategy is to enter into co-development alliances and licensing arrangements with Original Equipment Manufacturers and suppliers in multiple industries, including automotive telematics providers, semiconductor manufacturers and telecommunications network operators and device makers worldwide.
About Zandiant Technologies, Inc.
Zandiant Technologies was spun-off from Clarion Co., Ltd. In February of 2001 under the leadership of Albert Wong, co-founder and former Chief Technical Officer of AST Research. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California, Zandiant specializes in the development of mobile entertainment, wireless and computing products. As an engineering consultant to the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers and automotive suppliers, Zandiant specializes in bringing digital technologies into the mobile environment. Forthcoming products developed by Zandiant include Clarion's Joyride(TM), the first automotive computer to provide DVD video with Dolby(R) 5.1 Channel Surround Sound and DTS(R) Digital Surround. Another emerging technology developed by Zandiant is in the area of Class "D" Audio Amplifiers. Zandiant has developed a full line of car amplifiers, ranging from 2-channel to 5.1-channel models. Zandiant offers Professional Engineering Services and licensed Product Designs to mobile electronics manufacturers. For more information, contact info@zandiant.com
Clarion stock up on Nissan car navigation deal
TOKYO, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Shares in Clarion Co Ltd roared ahead in Monday morning trade after Japan's leading car audio equipment maker said it received an order to supply 200,000 car navigation systems to Nissan Motor Co Ltd .
The deal is the first between the two firms in the booming car navigation market in Japan, which Clarion estimates will grow by 10 percent to two million units this year.
Clarion shares shot up to a high of 108 yen, up 37 percent, before easing to 98 yen, up 24 percent, by mid-morning trade.
With its DVD-equipped systems to be installed in three new Nissan models making their debut in the fiscal year starting in April, Clarion expects to grab around 10 percent of the domestic market.
Clarion is owned 11.3 percent by Nissan and is its major supplier of car audio equipment. It expects the new deal to strengthen ties with the nation's third-largest automaker, a Clarion spokesman said.
He estimated that a navigation system cost automakers a wholesale price of around 100,000 yen ($753) and that the deal would bring in around 20 billion yen in the next business year.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun daily reported over the weekend that Nissan selected Clarion's advanced telematics system -- which responds to voice commands -- in preference to equipment from a unit of Hitachi Ltd , its primary supplier of car navigation systems.
A Nissan spokesman declined to comment on details but said its relationship with the Hitachi group, which makes Nissan's GPS-installed systems, would not change.
He also declined to comment on the report's information that Clarion's product would serve as the terminal for Nissan's voice-activated telematics system, Carwings, to be launched in March.
By 0100 GMT, shares in Nissan were down 0.63 percent at 794 yen, while the broader market remained largely unchanged.
Nissan, DoCoMo team up on car internet services
By Edwina Gibbs
TOKYO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Japan's third-largest automaker, Nissan Motor Co Ltd , and mobile telecoms giant NTT DoCoMo Inc said on Tuesday they were teaming up to develop multimedia services for cars.
The move greatly boosts Nissan's potential in offering ``telematics'' or net-based car information and entertainment services while helping DoCoMo lay the groundwork for further growth in its nascent third generation 3G mobile network.
3G's fast transmission speeds offer access to rich Internet content such as video and music downloads.
``Drivers and passengers will be able to enjoy the convenience of their own living room or office in their Nissan cars,'' the automaker's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, told a news conference.
The pact puts the automaker, which has also announced it will be offering a telematics service, called CarWings, in its new March subcompact -- the first in a basic small vehicle -- on an equal footing with or even ahead of rivals.
Auto giant Toyota Motor Corp , a major stakeholder in Japan's second largest telecoms firm KDDI Corp , is developing its telematics services in-house and has an eight-month study agreement with General Motors Corp (NYSE:GM - news).
``KDDI's 3G service has lagged that of DoCoMo and it could be argued that with the arrival of CarWings and the new tie-up between Nissan and DoCoMo, that Nissan is edging ahead in certain areas,'' said Howard Smith, analyst at ING Baring Securities.
He noted that CarWings was less than half the price of rival automakers' systems.
OTHER INDUSTRIES GET INVOLVED
Honda Motor Co is working with NTT DoCoMo's parent company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp -- a fact that DoCoMo President Keiji Tachikawa said was not necessarily contradictory.
``It's good for there to be competition and customers to have various services to choose from.''
Services for the Japan market to be introduced from 2003 include advanced navigation information such as traffic information, weather reports and parking availability .
The information would also be accessible from other devices such as cellphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
A year later, services on offer are expected to involve other industries.
Non-life insurance companies, for example, could monitor the amount of time and distance a car was driven, offering lower insurance rates for drivers that do not use their cars often.
Security services firms could be notified if the vehicle was stolen.
Other possible services slated from 2004 include electronic money, broadcasting and dedicated short-range communication technology such as electronic toll collection.
The agreement is not exclusive although Nissan's Ghosn said he was prepared to consider setting up a joint venture with DoCoMo, after development studies were completed.
NTT DoCoMo's Tachikawa said that although the agreement did not bind the two firms to each other, he was hoping that some patents would be developed which would exclude other companies.
``We're hoping to develop services that other automakers don't have,'' he said.
Ghosn declined to comment on how the automaker would develop vehicle communication services overseas but Tachikawa said the company's 3G technology meant there should be no problem taking developments abroad.
Generic Media Incorporates PacketVideo Technology to Deliver Streaming Video To DoCoMo's New 3G Media-Ready Cell Phones
Generic Media's Multi-format Publishing Service Integrates PacketVideo Products to Deliver Digital Content to 3G Cellular Phones Over NTT DoCoMo FOMA network
NEW YORK, Streaming Media East, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Generic Media, creators of innovative technology and services for the digital media industry, today announced the incorporation of PacketVideo technology into the Generic Media Publishing Service. Generic Media customers will now have the ability to stream digital content across the NTT DoCoMo FOMA network and onto media-enabled 3G cellular phones using the same source file they would use for streaming to PCs or PDA devices. Content published through the Generic Media Publishing Service will be extended to an entirely new category of devices, through a single unified platform to stream content to the widest audience possible.
``Generic Media continues to be a leader among streaming companies by developing technology that keeps up with the rapid advances in handheld devices, wireless networks and cellular phones,'' said Robert Tercek, president, PacketVideo Applications & Services Division. ``PacketVideo is working with Generic Media to expand the availability of MPEG-4 standards-based encoding in a way that is remarkably easy for content providers. Through real-time delivery to NTT DoCoMo's media-ready cell phones, video delivery services for mobile phones are making a great leap forward.''
The Generic Media Publishing Service support of PacketVideo's MPEG-4 standards-based platform enables real-time conversion of media over NTT DoCoMo's FOMA network for viewing on 3G cellular phones. The capability was first demonstrated at the Streaming Media Japan conference on November 20, and was developed as part of the FOMA Live Streaming Delivery Trial Consortium established by NTT DoCoMo. The consortium's goals are to develop one-to-many service applications for the FOMA Live-Video Distribution Platform to foster new markets for real-time video streaming using wireless terminals. The new FOMA platform, developed through a technology alliance between NTT DoCoMo and PacketVideo, enables the world's first live streaming services. FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access) is NTT DoCoMo's third-generation (3G) mobile communications service.
``Generic Media offers content publishers the ability to reach new frontiers by delivering the first ever real-time, on-demand encoding and delivery of media to DoCoMo's 3G mobile phones,'' said Jim Martin, CEO, Generic Media. ``We are working with companies such as PacketVideo to further develop enabling technology that pushes the boundaries of digital content availability. We will continue to ensure that our customers are always ready for new media deployment opportunities, such as mobile devices.''
``Cellular phone technology is developing at such a rapid pace that they are now viable options for content delivery and can now be used for receiving and viewing digital files and movie streams,'' said Dr. Mitsuru Kodama, Senior Manager, Mobile Multimedia Division, NTT DoCoMo, Inc. ``PacketVideo and Generic Media are pioneering technology that delivers the same file used for streaming to PCs and handhelds, to NTT DoCoMo cell phones allowing our users to receive streaming media directly in the palm of their hands.''
The Generic Media Publishing Service is the industry's only comprehensive solution for dynamically encoding and delivering digital media. The Generic Media Publishing Service drastically reduces the time and resource expenditures commonly associated with streaming media content and enables publishers to reach the widest possible audience immediately, reliably and cost-effectively. The Generic Media Publishing Service keeps pace with new advancements in streaming technology on an ongoing basis, ensuring a seamless transition to new and developing media capabilities.
About Generic Media
Generic Media delivers innovative streaming technologies and provides the industry's only comprehensive multi-format solution for hosting, dynamic encoding and delivery of digital media. The company's investors include Mobius Venture Capital (formerly Softbank Venture Capital), Sony and NTT Leasing. The Generic Media team consists of pioneering media engineers and executives from major technology companies, including America Online, Apple Computer, Burst.com, Microsoft, Oracle, Pinnacle Systems, SGI and Sun. Generic Media was founded in February 2000 and is based in Menlo Park, California. For more information, please visit www.genericmedia.com.
NOTE: The barcode logo and Generic Media are trademarks of Generic Media, Inc. in the United States and other
Verizon Wireless Reports 'Express Network' Success, Lays Groundwork For Rollout In 2002
Users Cite Robust Applications at Consistently High Speeds
BEDMINSTER, N.J., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Solidifying its leadership position in bringing advanced, high-speed wireless data services to customers, Verizon Wireless reports promising results from participants in its Express Network preview, setting the stage for the planned commercial availability of its 1XRTT Express Network in the first half of 2002. A broad base of participants, including IBM, GE, Gateway, PacketVideo, GoAmerica Communications, Wireless Knowledge and Aether Systems, who used the Verizon Wireless Express Network in the preview, have lauded its speed and expanded capabilities and look forward to its commercial availability.
Verizon Wireless has long demonstrated its commitment to providing high-speed data services to its customers and over the last several years has invested significant resources to upgrade its current CDMA network to 1XRTT.
While some areas of the country already have Express Network capabilities deployed, Verizon Wireless is continuing to work with manufacturers in order to provide high-quality devices in significant numbers, in order to support commercial service. The preview demonstrated that popular business applications are compatible with the Express Network, and Verizon Wireless eagerly awaits the broad availability of 1XRTT-enabled devices.
Expansion of the Express Network is underway, with 20% of the company's overall footprint covered by the end of 2001. By mid-2002, a majority of the CDMA network will be upgraded.
``The excellent results achieved by the organizations participating in our Express Network preview represent another milestone in rolling out our advanced wireless network and accompanying data services,'' said Lowell McAdam, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Verizon Wireless. ``We are committed to bringing the benefits of a higher speed network to all of our customers, and we have the right team in place under our Chief Marketing Officer John Stratton to achieve this goal. Verizon Wireless has long been a leader in launching innovative wireless data services, and we continue to work with manufacturers to ensure that high-quality commercially-available devices are readily available to support these important efforts.''
The Express Network will offer significant benefits to customers. Verizon Wireless expects to consistently deliver between 40 and 60 kbps-higher than speeds generated from competing wireless technologies, and higher than what PC users get when they use dial-up Internet service at home. The Express Network will give consumers a richer Internet experience when browsing on their wireless devices, and should help increase productivity and efficiency given the scores of consumer and enterprise applications that may be available.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 28.7 million wireless voice and data customers. The coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - news) and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD; LSE). Verizon Wireless has a footprint covering more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 97 of the top 100 U.S. markets. The company, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 40,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.
What Users are Saying About the Verizon Wireless Express Network
Organizations that participated* in the Express Network Preview:
- Aether Systems, Inc.
- Alter Ego
- Bozell
- Dechert
- EarthLink
- Emblaze Systems, Inc.
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
- Gateway
- GE
- GoAmerica Communications
- IBM
- Itronix
- Media Systems
- OmniSky
- PacketVideo
- Philips
- Rohm & Haas
- SAP
- Sierra Wireless
- UPS
- Wireless Knowledge
* Partial list.
Aether Systems, Inc.
``Aether successfully tested Reuters MarketClip, one of our premier real-time wireless financial services, over the Express Network in Philadelphia,'' said Dale Shelton, Chief Technology Officer of Aether Systems, Inc. ``The speed and bandwidth of the new network will allow Aether to roll out advanced wireless data applications to help professionals in any industry increase productivity and efficiency.''
EarthLink
``Our Philadelphia trials with Verizon Wireless yielded very promising preliminary results in terms of speed and connection integrity,'' said Lance Weatherby, executive vice president of EarthLink's ``EarthLink Everywhere'' wireless and non-PC Internet access initiative. ``In light of EarthLink's focus on providing consumers with the widest variety of wireline and wireless Internet access choices, Verizon Wireless' Express Network is a solid network prospect for delivering high-speed wireless connectivity to EarthLink Mobile Internet customers.''
Emblaze Systems, Inc.
``The commercial capabilities demonstrated by the Verizon Wireless Express Network Preview enabled Emblaze Systems to showcase its carrier grade wireless media platform featuring applications such as multimedia messaging, video-on-demand and live streaming,'' said Sasson Darwish, president, Emblaze Systems, Inc. ``Our work with Verizon Wireless reaffirmed that commercial deployment of multimedia applications is a reality today. We believe that wireless multimedia applications are one of the leading revenue generating categories for 2.5G and 3G networks and we are pleased that Verizon Wireless chose to work with us.''
GoAmerica Communications
``Testing conducted in GoAmerica's Network Operating Center indicated excellent response rates and speeds up to 130 percent greater than some of today's existing wireless data networks,'' said Joe Korb, president of GoAmerica Communications. ``We have worked closely with Verizon Wireless since we began providing wireless services in 1997 and look forward to integrating the 1X network into GoAmerica's next generation of wireless solutions for the enterprise.''
OmniSky
``Access to the network was extremely quick, and Web browsing on the iPAQ proved to be very snappy. Overall we were very impressed by the user experience on the network,'' said Jorge Point, vice president of marketing at OmniSky.
``Consumers have been waiting for the arrival of the 2.5 and 3G networks. It is exciting that the networks are finally here. The Express Network will help to jumpstart the market,'' said Devon Johnson, vice president of operations at OmniSky. ``The Express Network is delivering a quality experience that one would expect from a wireline connection. We were quite pleased with the Preview experience. Side-by-side comparisons to the CDPD network showed that the Express Network was up to 5 times faster!''
PacketVideo
``Verizon Wireless' launch of their next generation CDMA 1X network demonstrates their commitment to delivering advanced services to mobile consumers,'' said Ed Knapp, chief technology officer for PacketVideo. ``Through extensive testing with Verizon Wireless and its vendors at streaming speeds greater than 100 kbps, PacketVideo has validated that the Express Network is an excellent platform for the delivery of compelling wireless multimedia applications.''
``The preview provided a terrific opportunity for our third party developers to showcase rich media applications with one of the premier operators in the country,'' said Robert Tercek, president of PacketVideo's applications & services division. ``The increased speed offered through Verizon Wireless' Express Network enables our developer partners to deliver rich media applications such as news, personal video and interactive maps to mobile users at very high quality.''
Philips MP4Net
``Thanks to excellent collaboration between Verizon Wireless and Philips during the Express Network preview, we have been able to demonstrate the viability of multimedia applications over cdma2000 mobile networks. The range of applications included ISO-compliant MPEG-4 standards-based pre-encoded and live Multimedia-on-demand, and next-generation interactive applications adjusted to suit the characteristics of the wireless network. Philips looks forward to further collaboration on this front to identify mobile consumer behavior and build suitable multimedia applications based on our MPEG-4 platform that can scale and translate that to increased data-services revenue per subscriber for Verizon Wireless,'' said Shailendra Jain, Chief Operating Officer, Philips MP4Net.
Wireless Knowledge, Inc.
``Our participation in the Verizon Wireless Express Network Preview validates that high-speed wireless technologies will enable powerful new business scenarios made possible by the new capabilities and higher performance. Wireless Knowledge offers comprehensive enterprise mobility solutions that take maximum advantage of existing networks while properly preparing customers to quickly adopt new 3G CDMA technologies. The Express Network will allow enterprise customers to solve financially justified business problems while delivering wireless solutions that meet the real-world usability expectations of employees and customers. Through our collective mission, Verizon Wireless and Wireless Knowledge are prepared to introduce 3G solutions that support enterprise groupware, SFA, CRM, and a host of new applications that will connect mobile workers wirelessly to the information that drives their businesses.'' Jeff Ross, vice president of marketing, Wireless Knowledge, Inc.
SOURCE: Verizon Wireless
Internet Streaming Media Alliance Surpasses Goals Set in 2001
Industry Leaders Gather At Annual Forum to Discuss Strategic Direction in 2002
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2002--The Internet Streaming Media Alliance (ISMA) today announced significant support of industry-leading companies including Sony, Hitachi Data Systems, Telecom Italia Lab and SRI, to round out a highly successful first year. Since the organization debuted at Streaming Media West in December 2000, the release of ISMA 1.0 Specification further enabled the ISMA to accelerate the adoption of open standards for streaming rich media content over Internet Protocols. Working jointly to step-up innovation and quickly bring products to market has allowed this non-profit alliance to push forward its goal of making interoperable complete systems for streaming media over IP networks.
The ISMA reached several milestones in its first year, including:
The addition of more than 30 member companies within the last six months, including AOL Time Warner, Dolby Laboratories, Entriq, Envivio, Hitachi Data Systems, Fraunhofer Institute, iVast, Network Appliance, SRI, Sony, Telecom Italia Lab, Thomson Multimedia, all with the goal of developing, promoting, evolving and incorporating ISMA-released specifications;
The formation of active task forces focused on Digital Rights Management, membership and interoperability and testing;
On-going interoperability ``plug-fest'' events, providing environments for solution testing; and
The release of ISMA 1.0 Specification -- designed to accelerated media streaming over the Internet -- requested by nearly 300 companies in just two months.
``Joining ISMA was an easy decision for Network Appliance given both service providers and enterprises are realizing the cost- and time-saving benefits of streaming media. Although streaming has made significant progress in recent years, its full benefits have yet to be realized,'' said Amit Pandey, senior director of marketing for the content delivery business unit of Network Appliance. ``By joining the ISMA, we are committed to developing and driving interoperability and open standards that will further promote streaming media as a viable, cost-effective technology for applications ranging from entertainment to marketing to corporate communications.''
The ISMA in 2002
The completion of a successful launch and closing of a number of goals within the first year allow the ISMA to capitalize on its efforts to date. In response to the overwhelming request of membership companies and content providers to provide an interoperable and uniform environment for Digital Rights Management, the ISMA has formed a focus group to engage on and work out the best solution for streaming media's stakeholders (content companies, consumers and technology suppliers). Digital Rights Management is an important area for the ISMA since it is a significant issue slowing the rapid adoption of streaming rich media. Other areas that the ISMA will address are dynamic scalability, quality of service, higher bandwidth/higher quality technologies, and other relevant technologies.
The ISMA will host its annual meeting on February 5, 2002 in New York. Press and analysts are invited to attend the annual meeting and participate in a number of interactive sessions, including a keynote with Yankee Group analyst, Ryan Jones regarding the acceptance of MPEG-4 by the consumer market. If you are interested in attending the annual meeting you must RSVP prior to the event, as registration will not be available on-site. Press and analysts can RSVP by contacting Rosalyn Martin at 650/949-6780 or by sending a detailed email to pressrsvp@isma.tv.
About Internet Streaming Media Alliance
The Internet Streaming Media Alliance is a non-profit corporation founded by Apple (AAPL), Cisco Systems (CSCO), IBM (IBM), Kasenna, Inc., Philips (PHG) and Sun Microsystems (SUNW) to accelerate the market adoption of an international ubiquitous open implementation specification for streaming rich media over the Internet Protocol (IP) that encompasses scalability, ease of use and effectiveness. The ISMA is a diverse alliance with representatives from all points of the streaming workflow. In addition to the founders, the following companies are members of the ISMA: AOL Time Warner Inc., Analog Devices, Bitband, Dolby Laboratories, Entriq, Envivio, Fraunhofer Institute, Hitachi, Inktomi, iVast, Lucent Technologies, Macrovision, National Semiconductor, NeoMagic, Network Appliance, ObjectVideo (formerly DiamondBack Vision), Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., Optibase, PacketVideo, Serome Technology, Sigma Designs, SGI, Sony, SRI International, Streaming21, Telecom Italia Lab and Thomson Multimedia. Additional information and a complete list of members can be accessed at www.isma.tv.
Equator and Serome to Unveil MPEG-4 Broadband Streaming Media Solution on MAP-BSP Platform at the ISMA Annual Meeting
High Performance Programmable Platform and Advanced Codec Technology Ensure Standard Compliance and Interoperability for Streaming Media Devices
CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2002-- Equator Technologies Inc., the leading provider of video streaming and processing engines and platforms, and Serome Technology, Inc., the MPEG-4 based streaming platform provider, today announced that Serome's MPEG-4 video decoders, AAC audio decoder and an Internet Streaming Media Alliance (ISMA) 1.0 Implementation Specification based streaming media player have been ported to the Equator MAP-BSP(TM) family of Broadband Signal Processor(TM) (BSP(TM)) chips, targeting broadband Video-on-Demand (VOD) set-top box designs and a range of other broadband streaming media client applications. At the 2002 ISMA Annual Meeting, on Feb. 5, in New York City, the companies will be demonstrating the joint solution on the Equator Dolphin hardware platform, a hardware reference design for broadband streaming media client devices.
Equator's high-level C-programmable, system-on-a-chip solution is based on its proprietary VLIW/SIMD architecture and is optimized for video processing. Delivering up to 40 GOPS, the MAP-BSP family of chips consists of the most powerful and versatile video-processing engines available on the market. The Serome software offerings include a MAP-BSP optimized Simple Profile MPEG-4 video decoder, an Advanced Simple Profile MPEG-4 video decoder, an MPEG-4 AAC audio decoder, and a streaming media player based on the ISMA 1.0 Implementation Specification. Together, Equator and Serome provide the broadband streaming media market with a compelling solution that delivers unprecedented video processing power, uncompromising compliance to existing standards, and flexibility to adhere to future standards.
As a complete system-on-a-chip with superior video processing power, the MAP-BSP chip can decode multiple MPEG-4/AAC streams simultaneously, and reduce system costs and complexity by replacing multiple fixed-function ASICs. Alternatively, the MAP-BSP chip can be paired with another host-processor to deliver unsurpassed video processing power to existing applications, allowing rapid adoption of MPEG-4 and ISMA standards with the shortest time-to-market.
``We have been working to accelerate our technological competitiveness in the international market through participating in a variety of international standards activities, such as Wireless Multimedia Forum (WMF), ISMA, MPEG, 3GPP, and 3GPP2, and are pleased to utilize our expertise in the collaboration with Equator,'' said Yoon Seok Han, CEO of Serome.
``The strong customer traction that Equator has received during the past year is very impressive. We are confident that our partnership with Equator will attract new customers by providing high-performance and cost-effective MPEG-4 streaming media solutions,'' said Dr. Il-Taek Lim, Multimedia Division Director of Serome.
``Serome's expertise in advanced codec technology, commitment to standard compliance, and strong system integration know-how made Serome a perfect partner to help our joint customers deploy advanced streaming media applications in the shortest time possible,'' said Dr. Avi Katz, Equator's President and CEO. ``The market is clamoring for high performance systems that are based on well-accepted standards such as MPEG-4 and ISMA Implementation Specification. By working with Serome, we are able to deliver just what the market is asking for.''
Availability
The Serome software can be licensed directly from Serome Technology and is available immediately. The Dolphin hardware platform is immediately available and can be licensed from Equator Technologies' direct sales channels.
About the Companies
Internet Streaming Media Alliance
The Internet Streaming Media Alliance, Inc. (www.isma.tv) is a non-profit corporation founded by Apple (AAPL), Cisco (CSCO), IBM (IBM), Kasenna, Inc., Philips (PHG), and Sun Microsystems (SUNW) to accelerate the market adoption of an international ubiquitous open standard for streaming rich media over the Internet Protocol (IP) that encompasses scalability, ease of use and effectiveness. The ISMA is a diverse alliance with representatives from all points of the streaming workflow. In addition to the founders, the following companies are members of the ISMA: Analog Devices, AOL Time Warner, Inc., Bitband, DiamondBack Vision, Dolby Laboratories, Fraunhofer Institute, Hitachi, Inktomi, iVast, Lucent Technologies, Macrovision, National Semiconductor, Neomagic, Network Appliance, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., Optibase, PacketVideo, Serome Technology, Sigma Designs, SGI, Sony, SRI International, Streaming21 and Thomson Multimedia. Additional information and a complete list of members can be accessed at www.isma.tv.
Serome Technology Inc.
Serome Technology is a leading company to develop MPEG-4 based streaming solutions in Korea. Serome Technology Inc. provides solutions from media encoding and streaming to conversational multimedia services for wireless as well as wired networks for telecommunication companies, device manufacturers, and content providers. Serome Technology's products include Serome(TM) Author Basic, Serome(TM) Streamer, Serome(TM) Player-i for PC, PDA and Set-Top Box. Serome Technology's products are all based on international standards such as ISMA, WMF, MPEG, 3GPP, and 3GPP2. For more information, visit www.serome.com, www.seromemobile.com.
Equator Technologies, Inc.
Equator Technologies is the leading provider of comprehensive broadband digital communications and media processing infrastructure for the consumer and business technology markets. Equator's family of Broadband Signal Processor(TM) (BSP(TM)) chips, including the MAP-CA(TM) digital signal processor, couples a unique, fully functional system-on-a-chip solution with software tools. Equator's unmatched compiler technology delivers 100% C programming -- enabling the rapid introduction and field upgradeability of high-performance, video-intense systems. With more than 120 customers, Equator offers rapid time-to-market and time-to-revenue solutions for digital media communication markets including, head-end, set top boxes, video conferencing, video security and imaging. Headquartered in Campbell, Calif., with additional international offices, Equator is a privately held company. For more information, visit www.equator.com.
Ntoe to Editors: The following are trademarks of Equator Technologies, Inc., and may be used to identify Equator products only: Equator, MAP, MAP1000, MAP1000A, MAP-CA, MAP Series, Broadband Signal Processor, BSP, FIRtree, DataStreamer, DS, iMMediaC, iMMediaTools, iMMediaToolsLite, Media Intrinsics, VersaPort, SofTV, Shark, StingRay, Dolphin, EagleRay, Orca, Equator Around and the Equator Around logo. Other product and company names in this news release may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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IMTC Tests Interoperability of Technology to Deliver Multimedia Content over Wireless Networks
IMTC Activity Group invites companies to participate in three-phased interoperability tests
SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 7, 2002-- The International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium (IMTC) Packet Switched Streaming (PSS) Activity Group (AG) is currently conducting the first two phases of a three-phased interoperability test of technology, based on the 3GPP Technical Specifications 26.233 and 26.234, for delivering/streaming multimedia content over wireless networks. Seven companies from around the world are already participating in the tests that include offline, virtual and face-to-face phases. Members of the IMTC PSS AG develop streaming servers, content distribution servers, content creations tools and multimedia terminals and they are working together to achieve broad support for standards, as well as maximum interoperability for their products, in the rich media wireless market.
Participating vendors are: Emblaze Systems (Israel), Mobixell Networks (Israel), Motorola (USA), PacketVideo (USA), Philips (Netherlands), Serome Technology (Korea) and Siemens (Germany).
According to Adi Plaut, Chair of the IMTC PSS AG, ``Our testing provides many advantages. While one single manufacturer cannot effectively check interoperability by itself, conducting trials with a group of vendors reveals much about a component's ability to interoperate. Also, the PSS tests serve as validation tests for the 3GPP's technical specifications. This will assist in the implementation, deployment and promotion of interoperable mobile multimedia solutions. Testing for interoperability also contributes to the industry's understanding of the standards for wireless, rich media streaming.''
The tests are being performed according to the test procedure document written by the members of the PSS AG. The first two testing phases (offline and virtual testing) provide the infrastructure for the third phase, which is face-to-face testing. During the offline-testing phase, each vendor tests the other vendor's compressed audio and video bitstream files, 3GPP/MPEG-4 file format and packetized bit stream files. In the virtual testing phase, companies will use the Internet to test their protocols and equipment to initiate and complete a multimedia session.
In the face-to-face testing phase, manufacturers will connect between their streaming servers, content distribution servers, content creations tools and multimedia terminals in order to test an end-to-end multimedia content creation and delivery solution in real-time. The face-to-face tests are scheduled for March 11 - 15 at Siemens' facilities in Munich, Germany.
The first and second phases will continue until the early March. This will enable more vendors to join the tests in the current cycle. The IMTC PSS AG invites network infrastructure manufacturers, carriers, handset vendors, streaming multimedia vendors, content providers and organizations in the mobile market to participate in the current interoperability test.
For more information visit the IMTC's web site (www.imtc.org). Or, contact Adi Plaut at Emblaze (adi.plaut@emblaze.com) or Dr. Imre Varga of Siemens AG (Imre.Varga@mch.siemens.de).
About the IMTC
The International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium (IMTC) is an industry-leading, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote, encourage, and facilitate the development and implementation of interoperable multimedia conferencing solutions based on open international standards. The IMTC hosts multimedia interoperability testing events and demonstrations throughout the world. Over the past three years, the IMTC has hosted more than 60 interoperability events to test T.120, H.320, H.323, H.324, SIP and Voice over IP products and services for compatibility with each other. The IMTC Board of Directors includes representatives from Avaya, Cisco Systems, Forgent, France Telecom, Intel, KPN Telecom, Nokia, Polycom, RADVISION, Ridgeway, Siemens AG, Sony, Tandberg, Telverse, and WorldCom. The San Ramon, California-based consortium comprises more than 100 member organizations from around the globe. Membership is open to any interested party, including vendors of audio, document, and video conferencing hardware and software; communications companies; teleconferencing service providers; end users; academic institutions; government agencies; and non-profit organizations. The consortium's Web site address is http://www.imtc.org.
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Intel Unveils Chips for Next-Gen Mobile Devices
Tue Feb 12, 2:38 PM ET
Jay Wrolstad, Wireless.NewsFactor.com
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC - news) has introduced two new chips designed to deliver cutting-edge applications to wireless devices.
"Consumers today want to access the Internet, share information and stay connected wherever they go, and that puts significant processing demands on their cell phones and PDAs," said Peter Green, general manager of Intel's handheld computing division.
Based on the company's Xscale processor technology, the microprocessors will bring both high performance and extended battery life to wireless communications devices, the world's No. 1 chipmaker said.
The chips are the first fully designed by Intel for mobile devices, based on the Xscale architecture and using the ARM instruction set, said company spokesperson Mark Miller.
"For wireless, battery life is king, especially with multimedia data and Internet access, and we now have a product that will both improve performance and cut down on power consumption," he told Wireless NewsFactor.
Creating an Ecosystem
Miller said the new processors use about 75 percent less power than existing StrongARM chips.
Products with the chips will be rolled out in the middle of the year, with a new Ipaq handheld expected in May or June. "These processors can be used in Web pads, PDAs, smartphones and for telematics systems," Miller said.
"What Intel can do, that most of our competitors can't, is create an ecosystem around a product, working with original equipment manufacturers, software developers and others who use our products," Miller said. "They sell the products, but it is up to us to optimize the platforms for applications developers and developer networks."
Multimedia Experience
The Intel PXA250 and PXA210 chips will enable mobile phones and handheld computers to deliver music, video and games -- among the most sought-after applications for next-generation wireless users -- as well as the latest enterprise applications under development, the company said.
They are upgraded versions of Intel's StrongARM applications processors, which comprise the leading platform for Pocket PC-powered handheld computers, and they are expected to usher in a new class of wireless communications devices, according to Intel.
The PXA 250 applications processor, running at speeds up to 400 MHz, is designed for next-generation PDAs and in-vehicle telematics systems. Offering processing power of up to 200 MHz, the PXA210 is for cell phones and entry-level handhelds, Intel said.
To enhance the mobile multimedia experience, Intel said it has added its media processing technology, which works with the device's audio, video and gaming applications to increase the number of frames per second in videos, improve sound quality and deliver cool graphics.
Growing Mobile Data Market
The market potential for these chips is enormous, the company said. Just 2 percent to 3 percent of the 400 million handsets sold worldwide in 2001 have the power to process the massive amounts of digital data being delivered by applications developers, Intel said. However, citing industry analysts, the company predicted that by 2005 more than 50 percent of the 900 million cellular phones sold will be data-enabled.
Intel's Green said the new chips will meet increasing consumer demands. "The new Intel XScale microarchitecture-based processors deliver longer battery life and increased computing power for accessing the Internet with handheld communications and telematics devices today and well into the future," he said.
Widespread Support
The XScale microarchitecture core was engineered to improve the performance of wireless Internet devices as well as to power networking infrastructure equipment.
Among those endorsing the new processors are device manufacturers Acer, Casio, Compaq, DaimlerChrysler, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, NEC, Symbol Technologies and Toshiba. Operating systems supporting the new processors include Microsoft Windows CE.Net, Windows Pocket PC 2002, PalmOS, SymbianOS, and embedded Linux from multiple vendors.
More than 200 software vendors are introducing versions of their multimedia software applications that support the new chips, including Adobe, Macromedia, PacketVideo and RealNetworks, Intel said.
Infineon Technologies, PacketVideo and sci-worx Deliver Mobile Multimedia to Next Generation Wireless Handsets
MUNICH, HANNOVER, Germany & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2002--Building on existing investment relationships, Infineon Technologies (FSE/NYSE:IFX), a leading provider of wireless semiconductor solutions, PacketVideo Corp. and sci-worx, a leading provider of intellectual property cores, today announced a technology integration alliance that will offer mobile users of GPRS and UMTS devices the richness of sight, sound, animation and moving pictures.
Under the agreement, PacketVideo's standards compliant mobilemedia software, pvPlayer(TM), pvAuthor(TM) and pv2WAY(TM) respectively, as well as sci-worx video acceleration technology, will be tightly integrated into a variety of Infineon's future mobile Internet modem and application processor solutions, including the S- and M-GOLD family, for next generation mobile handsets.
This co-operation will provide wireless terminal manufacturers with comprehensive end-to-end-solutions including multimedia content encoding, distribution, transmission and decoding allowing the fast and reliable development of next generation media-enabled mobile phones for faster time-to-market.
According to the ARC Group, global sales of mobile phones incorporating streaming video capability is going to exceed 90 million units in 2005, growing to more than 150 million units in 2006.
``Our alliance with PacketVideo and sci-worx supports Infineon's mission to provide our customers with sophisticated solutions for the wireless market,'' said Ulrich Hamann, CEO of the Business Group Wireless Solutions at Infineon Technologies. ``The integration of PacketVideo's multimedia software and sci-worx hardware accelerators into our wireless chip offerings will enhance next generation mobile devices with full featured multimedia services.''
Infineon's Wireless Solutions Group develops, produces and markets semiconductors and complete-system-solutions for a variety of mobile applications. The company is a leading provider of wireless solutions and a world leader in technology for the future mobile radio standard UMTS.
PacketVideo's pvPlayer, pvAuthor and pv2WAY software have been ported to and optimized for Infineon's first multimedia application processor demonstrator. PacketVideo's video encoder and decoder software solutions take full advantage of sci-worx hardware accelerator modules. The hardware accelerators have been developed by sci-worx, in close co-operation with Infineon, focusing especially on low power consumption, power management and off-loading the processor core from compute intensive tasks. The accelerators are available for open licensing as MPEG-4 DesignObjects(TM) Family from sci-worx.
``We are pleased to provide the multimedia software platform for Infineon's commercially proven wireless communications semiconductor solutions,'' said Kathleen Peters, vice president of worldwide embedded solutions for PacketVideo. ``The combination of Infineon's system design and integration experience with our leading software platform enables a broad range of advanced mobile applications providing information, communication and entertainment services.''
PacketVideo's leading end-to-end multimedia solution is a standards-compliant end-to-end system that comprises encoding, transmission and decoding software products that enable the delivery of audio, video, branded content and applications to mobile devices. PacketVideo's products are compliant with standards and specifications from 3GPP, 3GPP2, MPEG-4, WAP, IETF and other global standards organizations and technical forums.
About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and customized solutions for applications in the wired and wireless communications markets, for security systems and smartcards, for the automotive and industrial sectors, as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineon operates in the U.S. from San Jose, Calif., in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In the fiscal year 2001 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 5.67 billion with about 33,800 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX). Further information is available at www.infineon.com.
About PacketVideo
PacketVideo is the world's leading provider of carrier class infrastructure software that enables mobilemedia today. PacketVideo's standards-based software products enable the distribution of one- and two-way video, high-quality audio, animation and rich graphics over wireless networks to mobile devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants. PacketVideo's mobilemedia products enhance communication, productivity, security, information and entertainment, enabling the delivery of an enriching and productive mobile experience.
PacketVideo's investors include AOL Time Warner (NYSE:AOL - news), Comverse Technology (Nasdaq:CMVT - news), Credit Suisse First Boston, GE Equity (NYSE:GE - news), Infineon Technologies (NYSE:IFX - news), Intel Capital (Nasdaq:INTC - news), Kyocera (NYSE:KYO - news), Motorola (NYSE:MOT - news), Philips (NYSE:PHG - news), QUALCOMM (Nasdaq:QCOM - news), Siemens' Mustang Ventures, Sony Corporation of America (NYSE:SNE - news), Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW - news), Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN - news), and others. To learn more, visit www.pv.com.
About sci-worx
sci-worx, Europe's leading intellectual property and design service provider for multimedia, networking, telecommunications and security, is a leading microelectronics technology licensing and design company with a library of over 65 soft cores. sci-worx DesignObjects(TM) (synthesizable ASIC cores) come to the market as off-the-shelf solutions, thus reducing time-to-market and risk for new IC products and applications. Also, sci-worx core verification program ensures high quality and performance of all DesignObjects(TM).
sci-worx complements its DesignObjects(TM) with a comprehensive suite of design services including system integration and software development, as well as system and IP validation. All this is based on mature application know-how and numerous years of design experience. Visit the Web site at www.sci-worx.com.
PacketVideo and PacketVideo product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of PacketVideo Corp. All other trade names and trademarks are the property of their holders.
PacketVideo to Demonstrate Mobilemedia Solutions With Partners At 3GSM World Congress 2002
CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2002--PacketVideo Corp. will demonstrate the latest advancements in their mobilemedia products in conjunction with a number of its partners at 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, France from 19-22 February 2002.
PacketVideo can be found in their own suite (10.01 Hall 2) or in more than a dozen partner stands, including:
Hewlett Packard (Stand A1, Hall 1)
PacketVideo and Hewlett Packard will demonstrate a variety of mobilemedia applications, including sports highlights, live security and traffic. PacketVideo's mobilemedia system in partnership with Hewlett Packard's Mobile E-Services Architecture (MESA) provides new mobile e-services like M-Goal, M-Traffic, M-Watcher and M-Ticketing applications. Hewlett Packard is a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services and is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to individuals and businesses.
IBM (Stand K8, K9 Hall 4)
PacketVideo and IBM are working together to provide mobile operators with multimedia services. A PacketVideo executive will be presenting in the IBM theatre on Tuesday the 19th at 6.00 p.m., Wednesday the 20th at 10.00 a.m., and Thursday the 21st at 11.45 a.m. IBM is the world's leading e-business company, offering a wide range of services, solutions, software and technologies that allow businesses to take full advantage of the exploding wireless market.
Infineon (Stand A19/20 Hall 1)
Infineon and PacketVideo will demonstrate the integration and optimization of PacketVideo's standards compliant mobilemedia decoding software, pvPlayer(TM), for Infineon's first mobile Internet application processor demonstrator. Infineon Technologies offers semiconductor and customized solutions for applications in the wired and wireless communications markets, for security systems and smartcards, for the automotive and industrial sectors, as well as memory products.
Mitsubishi Telecom -- Trium mobile phones(Stand G15/16, Hall 2)
Mitsubishi Electric Telecom Europe (METE) will be demonstrating the Trium Mondo integrated phone/PDA, which ships with PacketVideo's MPEG-4 audio/video playback software, pvPlayer. PacketVideo's software allows Trium Mondo users to watch video and audio clips of news, sports, entertainment and live events. The Mondo is a groundbreaking GPRS/GSM integrated phone, personal organizer and Pocket PC all rolled into a light, slim and user-friendly device. In Europe, the telecommunications company Mitsubishi ElectricCorp. is managed by METE, which is responsible for manufacturing, research, development, models and marketing for all mobile phones and accessories sold under the brand Trium by Mitsubishi Electric such as the Mondo communicating PDA.
Motorola (Stand D46, Hall 1)
Motorola and PacketVideo will demonstrate digital media file playback through the pvPlayer port to Motorola's best-selling DragonBall Super VZ (68K core-based) and MX1 (ARM® core-based) microprocessors. Motorola is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. These include software-enhanced wireless telephone, two-way radio and messaging products and systems, as well as networking and Internet-access products, end-to-end systems for the delivery of interactive digital video, voice and high-speed data solutions for broadband operators, embedded semiconductor solutions and embedded electronic systems for automotive, industrial, transportation, navigation, communication and energy systems markets.
SAGEM (Stand A27, Hall 1)
SAGEM and PacketVideo have integrated the pvPlayer into the SAGEM WA3050, one of the world's first integrated GPRS mobile phone and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices. The companies will demonstrate live and on demand streaming of rich media content on this new mobile device. Groupe SAGEM is an internationally based, high-technology group representing the second largest French group in the field of telecommunications and the third largest European company in electronics for defense and security.
Siemens (Stand A4, Hall 1)
PacketVideo and Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (IC Mobile), a leading provider of mobile networks, solutions and devices for mobile business, will demonstrate multimedia applications such as sports highlights and security services running over Siemens' 2.5 and 3G network infrastructure. The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) offers the complete range of mobile solutions including mobile devices, infrastructure and applications. More than 25 mobile operators have already tested mobilemedia services with Siemens and PacketVideo.
Symbian (Stand E 28, Hall 2)
Building on their long-term relationship to optimize PacketVideo's pvPlayer mobilemedia decoding software for Symbian's mobile operating system, the two companies will demonstrate local playback and live streaming functionalities from Symbian OS phones connected to a remote pvServer over GSM and GPRS networks. Symbian is a software licensing company, owned by wireless industry leaders, that is the trusted supplier of the advanced, open standard operating system for data-enabled mobile phones. Symbian's mission is to create a mass-market for Symbian OS mobile phones by enabling licensees to build winning products.
Texas Instruments (Stand K10, Hall 2)
At the OMAP Developers Village, PacketVideo and Texas Instruments will demonstrate the combined power of the OMAP platform with pvPlayer to enable real-time MPEG-4 decoding, best performance and lowest power consumption, as well as support for multiple operating systems. Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. TI is a leader in the real-time technologies that help people communicate. The company is moving fast to drive the Internet age forward with semiconductor solutions for large markets such as wireless and broadband access and for new emerging markets such as digital cameras and digital audio.
Press Interviews
Interviews and demonstrations with PacketVideo's senior management are available during the 3GSM World Congress.
RealNetworks Introduces RealSystem Mobile
Carrier-Class Platform Enables Both 3GPP Formats and Access to Millions Of Hours of RealAudio/RealVideo Content
More Than 20 Industry-Leading Companies Support RealSystem Mobile
GSMWorld, CANNES, France, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK - news), the global leader in Internet media delivery, today announced RealSystem® Mobile, a breakthrough platform for creation, delivery, and playback of RealAudio®/RealVideo® and Third Generation Partnership Program (3GPP) standards-compliant multimedia content in the mobile environment. By working with RealSystem Mobile and RealNetworks, mobile operators can now rapidly deploy media delivery and content subscription services.
Built on the 8th generation RealSystem, RealSystem Mobile includes:
-- RealSystem Producer -- the premier digital media content creation tool
which enables content providers to target content for distribution to a
range of mobile devices, including phones, PDAs, and laptops;
-- RealSystem Mobile Server -- a carrier-class system for delivery of live
and on-demand content to mobile subscribers; support for H.263v2 and
MPEG-4 content; server is interoperable with 3GPP compliant content
formats from PacketVideo, Philips, Envivio, and the open source MPEG4IP
project;
-- RealSystem Mobile Gateway -- a carrier-class proxy-cache solution for
optimizing inbound Internet content for delivery to mobile subscribers;
-- RealOne(TM) Player for mobile devices -- an optimized version of the
world's most popular media player designed for mobile devices,
including handsets and PDAs; plays back both 3GPP compliant and
RealAudio/RealVideo content.
``Throughout the world, our software products and business solutions power the largest, most demanding digital media services delivered over IP networks,'' said Martin Plaehn, senior vice president, Media Systems, RealNetworks, Inc. ``Whether a mobile operator is selecting 3GPP standards- based audio and video or RealAudio/RealVideo, RealNetworks is the only company that can provide mobile operators with immediate access to content, an end-to- end delivery system, and expertise building content subscription businesses.''
Major Advances in 3GPP Technologies
Technology innovations in the RealSystem Mobile product line provide more efficient, more reliable, and higher quality 3GPP multimedia content creation, delivery, and playback. These innovations include:
-- Creation -- fast, efficient encoding to reduce cost of H.263v2 and
MPEG-4 content creation; easy incorporation of H.263v2 and MPEG-4
content creation capabilities into existing RealSystem Producer
installations to eliminate re-architecting and deployment of new tools;
-- Delivery -- carrier-class distributed broadcasting for 3GPP compliant
content, MPEG-4 video as well as RealAudio and RealVideo including:
broadcast redundancy, server to server routing, forward error
correction and proxy/caching; support for live broadcast and delivery
of pre-recorded on-demand media; comprehensive support of 3GPP and
MPEG-4 file formats and protocols, including interoperability with all
3GPP-compliant content creation tools;
-- Playback -- complete support for all mandatory components of the 3GPP
video requirements for packet-switched streaming services: ITU-T H.263
baseline, H.263 Profile 3 Level 10, as well as optional MPEG-4 Visual
Simple Profile Level 0; patent-pending post-filtering techniques to
improve image quality, independent of the content type, video codec and
delivery bit rate; performance optimized codecs resulting in a more
consistent playback experience.
RealNetworks' RealSystem Mobile is available immediately for mobile carriers and will be showcased this week at the Cap Gemini Ernst & Young stand, (Hall 2 G8) at 3GSM World 2002 in Cannes, France.
Media Delivery and Content Solutions
Mobile operators planning to deliver media services will find RealNetworks and its global partners uniquely suited to provide comprehensive mobile media delivery solutions. Software and integration services from RealNetworks Professional Services and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young link content delivery and subscription systems to back-end billing, payment, subscriber management, customer care, and operations support. Entertainment, music, sports, news, and finance content from RealNetworks' RealOne service enables mobile operators, at their option, to jump-start multimedia content subscription businesses. In addition, RealOne Player, the award-winning PC-based media player, provides consumers the ability to manage and transfer their media to mobile devices. Mobile operators can partner with RealNetworks for individual components of the RealNetworks suite of mobile products and services or for an entire media delivery and subscription business solution.
Industry Expresses Support
RealNetworks is working with many companies to bring mobile solutions to consumers. Global RealNetworks partners supporting RealSystem Mobile include: Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Hitachi, Intel, Nokia, Sonera, StarHub Mobile, Sun Microsystems, Symbian, Telefonica Moviles Espana, and Texas Instruments.
``Internet users benefit from continuous innovation and reliable delivery of great software products to bring better quality audio and video,'' said Stephen DeWitt, vice president & general manager, Content Delivery and Edge Computing, Sun Microsystems Inc. ``RealNetworks' industry leading standards- based software products operating on Sun platforms play a central role in the emerging market for audio and video delivery to mobile devices -- creating better user experiences and more opportunities for service creation and content delivery.''
``For many years now we have used RealNetworks' RealSystem as an integral part of our commercial wireline audio and video services. We are pleased to see that RealNetworks is bringing this expertise to mobile delivery also,'' said Jukka Helin, Head of MediaLab at Sonera Plaza Ltd. ``Last year we opened our GPRS network for our subscribers and now we are testing our 3G W-CDMA network. In our opinion, audio and video, such as that offered through RealSystem Mobile, will play an important role in bringing new 3G services to the market.''
``The release of RealSystem Mobile gives mobile operators a concrete way to take advantage of the rising availability of multimedia-enabled phones and the strong demand among consumers for information on their mobile phones and devices,'' said Mark Edwards, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Symbian. ``The Symbian OS was designed to enable rich media applications for mobile phones, and RealNetworks has delivered a product that brings those applications to life.''
``Virgin Radio has always sought to be a pioneer in embracing new technologies in order to offer our listeners new and innovative ways to hear our content -- whether at home, at work or on the move,'' said James Cridland, Managing Editor, Virgin Radio New Media. ``RealSystem Mobile is a further step in our aim to ensure our station is device-independent and will allow us to reach even more people across the world.''
``As an artist, I want to reach my fans wherever they are, whenever they want to hear my music,'' said Thomas Dolby, songwriter. ``Mobile devices are a cool and convenient way to offer content subscription services to consumers. RealSystem Mobile is a strong step toward that reality.'' Thomas worked closely with Supersoni.com to develop music video content especially for the Nokia 9210.
Other content providers supporting the launch of RealSystem Mobile include: Aestheticom, Animobile, AtomFilms, Edmunds.com, Eurosport, Playboy TV UK, Supersoni.com, TF1, and Voyage.
RealSystem: The Industry-Leading Platform for Standards-Based Delivery
RealSystem is an 8th generation, end-to-end, standards-compliant, media delivery system. RealSystem offers flexibility in deployments by streaming from any platform, to any device, in multiple media formats, from narrowband audio to high fidelity broadband video. Through distributed network configurations of interconnected RealSystem Servers, RealSystem empowers all servers to broadcast into the network, receive content from other servers, and deliver both live and on-demand media to vast audiences world-wide.
The incorporation of 3GPP support in RealSystem is built on longstanding and proven implementations of the leading industry standards for media delivery and interoperability between suppliers. In 1996, RealNetworks coauthored RTSP (Real-Time Session Protocol), the international standard for digital media session management and stream control, and in 1998, RealNetworks released support for RTP/RTSP streaming in RealSystem G2. RealNetworks has also been a primary contributor to SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language), and is currently contributing to MPEG and IETF committees responsible for video compression and digital rights management interoperability standards.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is the global leader in Internet media delivery. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software on the Internet at http://www.real.com . RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at http://www.realnetworks.com .
NOTE: RealNetworks, RealSystem, RealSystem iQ, RealAudio, RealVideo and RealOne are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: RealNetworks, Inc.
PacketVideo Expands the Possibilities of Mobile Communications Through pv3 Mobilemedia System
Mobile Operators and Application Developers Worldwide Currently Implementing PacketVideo's New Mobilemedia System
CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2002-- PacketVideo Corp. today launched pv3 Mobilemedia System(TM), the next generation of its leading multimedia delivery system for the mobile environment.
The carrier-grade system includes encoding, transmission and decoding products that enable the delivery of high quality audio and visual content and applications to mobile devices over today's networks.
pv3 is Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) compliant, with an extensible, modular architecture for optimal and rapid integration into mobile operator and Application Service Provider (ASP) networks. pv3 is being tested around the world, with revenue-generating trials for PacketVideo, by mobile operators, including Bouygues in France, China Unicom in China, Orange Innovation Centre in France, SK Telecom in Korea, and Swisscom in Switzerland.
``Leveraging its proven capabilities in delivering robust mobile technology, PacketVideo has created a comprehensive and flexible system that is setting a new standard for mobile communication,'' said Georges Passet, head of research and technology planning for Bouygues Telecom. ``This test phase allows us to further study the benefits of advanced mobile applications.''
pv3 Mobilemedia System
pv3 is a mature, carrier class suite of interrelated and interoperating products that include an encoding solution, pvAuthor(TM) 3; a distribution system, pvServer(TM) 3; and a decoding solution, pvPlayer(TM) 3. The system is compliant with mobilemedia standards such as 3GPP and is built around PacketVideo's QualityTrack(TM) technology, which consists of patented or patent-pending technologies that ensure an unsurpassed rich media experience for consumers. QualityTrack features include:
DeviceTrack(TM): Senses device capabilities to automatically deliver the media file with appropriate device parameters such as screen size, resolution and user controls, ensuring the best possible consumer experience.
SoundTrack(TM): Enables audio to be encoded into multiple compressed formats within a single encode and then, working in coordination with DeviceTrack, dynamically delivers the most optimal audio format available based on device capabilities.
FastTrack Download(TM): Enables a user to simultaneously download and view a video/audio clip, maximizing device memory and minimizing battery use and time requirements for downloads. Additionally, it allows a user to suspend a download in progress and later resume the download at the point the session was suspended.
FrameTrack(TM): Automatically regulates the frame rate of content to account for fluctuating network conditions, giving users uninterrupted, high quality video streaming.
SignalTrack(TM): Detects and conceals errors due to channel fading and packet loss, enabling high-quality streaming and optimal sound quality.
Other pv3 features include:
New High Quality Audio Encoding Options: PacketVideo supports Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), Enhanced Variable Rate Vocoder (EVRC) and GSM Adaptive MultiRate (GSM-AMR) audio encoding, delivering the best audio quality for both download and streaming, based on device capabilities and current networking conditions.
pvDiagnostic Player and pvDiagnostic Player Analyzer: These tools provide real-time and post-analysis diagnostic capabilities to analyze the performance of PacketVideo's pv3 system, enabling mobile operators and ASPs to optimize the quality of service parameters, adding another element to the best possible end-user experience.
Load Balancing: pv3 supports load balancing by allowing mobile operators or ASPs to add server capacity to achieve scalable levels of simultaneous streaming and downloading.
``PacketVideo is thrilled with the continued growth and development of the mobilemedia industry. We designed the comprehensive pv3 Mobilemedia System to enable operators and ASPs worldwide to launch commercial enhanced services today,'' said James Brailean, chief executive officer and president of PacketVideo. ``The enthusiasm we have received from our partners around the globe demonstrates the value that PacketVideo's products bring to the mobile community.''
PacketVideo Empowers Developers to Build Compelling Applications for pv3
The PacketVideo Global Developer Network (pvGDN) empowers application developers to collaborate on standards-based rich media applications for any mobile environment. Through the pvGDN, developers have the necessary resources to successfully define, build, test and rapidly deliver multimedia applications on PacketVideo's mobilemedia system. Registered members of the pvGDN will be able to download modules of the pvAirStudio(TM) Development Kit at no charge beginning early April, allowing developers to gain quick access to the tools necessary to begin developing wireless applications. pvGDN members can also gain access to the network for technical and marketing support as well as enhanced features of the pvAirStudio for a nominal fee.
A number of developers worldwide have already begun building applications on the pv3 Mobilemedia System to demonstrate at this week's 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, France. The developers include Ananova (U.K.), Blue Zone (Canada), Codeonline (Finland), DV4 (Ireland), Fastcom (Switzerland), FlyingColor (Japan), Kamera (Sweden), Premium Wireless Services (United States) and SpotLife (United States). For more information on PacketVideo's developer program, visit www.pvdevnet.com.
PacketVideo products are compliant with standards and specifications from 3GPP, 3GPP2, MPEG-4, WAP, IETF and other global standards organizations and technical forums. pvPlayer, available for download at http://www.pv.com/update/index.asp, has been optimized for the majority of the chipsets for mobile devices, including ARM, Infineon, Intel, Lucent, QUALCOMM and Texas Instruments. PacketVideo is also working with all of the leading handset manufacturers to integrate its technology into multimedia-enabled mobile phones and personal digital assistants, including Casio, Compaq, HP, Motorola, Sagem, Sanyo, Sendo, Sharp and more.
For more details on the pv3 Mobilemedia System, visit www.pv.com.
About PacketVideo
PacketVideo is the world's leading provider of carrier class infrastructure software that enables mobilemedia today. PacketVideo's standards-based software products enable the distribution of one- and two-way video, high-quality audio, animation and rich graphics over wireless networks to mobile devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants. PacketVideo's mobilemedia products enhance communication, productivity, security, information and entertainment, enabling the delivery of an enriching and productive mobile experience.
PacketVideo's investors include AOL Time Warner (NYSE:AOL - news), Comverse Technology (Nasdaq:CMVT - news), Credit Suisse First Boston, GE Equity (NYSE:GE - news), Intel Capital (Nasdaq:INTC - news), Kyocera (NYSE:KYO - news), Motorola (NYSE:MOT - news), Philips (NYSE:PHG - news), QUALCOMM (Nasdaq:QCOM - news), Siemens' Mustang Ventures, Sony Corp. of America (NYSE:SNE - news), Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW - news), Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN - news), and others. To learn more, visit www.pv.com.
PacketVideo and PacketVideo product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of PacketVideo Corp. All other trade names and trademarks are the property of their holders.
Siemens and PacketVideo Connect their Platforms for Multimedia Video Streaming
Integration of PacketVideo's Mobilemedia System with Siemens' HotStreams Platform for Interactive Videos
CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2002-- Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (IC Mobile), a leading provider of mobile networks, solutions and devices for mobile businesses, and PacketVideo Corp. today announced the integration of Siemens' HotStreams platform with PacketVideo's mobilemedia technology.
This joint end-to-end solution for wireless streaming services will offer mobile operators, application service providers and enterprises a range of innovative new business opportunities: multimedia information services, mobile shopping linked with video-supported product descriptions, multimedia messaging, entertainment services, subscription services for financial and sports news and various commercial applications such as e-learning, product training and support for maintenance technicians.
HotStreams is a platform for interactive on-demand videos that currently runs on PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), PCs and TVs with a set-top box -- and that will run on future mobile phones. HotStreams combines internet-specific features, such as hyperlinks, hotspots and frames, with video sequences. This allows videos to be linked to additional information by means of sensitive buttons offered within the video. Users activating one of these buttons will branch from the film straight to a Web or WAP site. A person watching a video sequence about the stock market, for instance, can immediately call up individual share charts without switching to another application.
HotStreams can be used over mobile radio and fixed networks based on GPRS, UMTS or xDSL. To use HotStreams' services, consumers must have a mobile phone with a standard Internet browser, a scripting-enabled player, and a standard conformant MPEG-4 player like PacketVideo's pvPlayer(TM) for viewing rich media. The services can also be used with a PDA or notebook in conjunction with a GPRS-enabled mobile phone.
PacketVideo's Mobilemedia System, a platform for wireless mobilemedia services, is compliant with mobilemedia standards such as 3GPP and is built around PacketVideo's QualityTrack(TM) technology, which consists of patented or patent-pending technologies that ensure an unsurpassed rich media experience for consumers.
PacketVideo is the world's leading provider of carrier class infrastructure software that enables mobilemedia today. PacketVideo's standards-based software products enable the distribution of one- and two-way video, high-quality audio, animation and rich graphics over wireless networks to mobile devices such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants. PacketVideo's mobilemedia products enhance communication, productivity, security, information and entertainment, enabling the delivery of an enriching and productive mobile experience.
PacketVideo's investors include AOL Time Warner (NYSE:AOL - news), Comverse Technology (Nasdaq:CMVT - news), Credit Suisse First Boston, GE Equity (NYSE:GE - news), Intel Capital (Nasdaq:INTC - news), Kyocera (NYSE:KYO - news), Motorola (NYSE:MOT - news), Philips (NYSE:PHG - news), QUALCOMM (Nasdaq:QCOM - news), Siemens' Mustang Ventures, Sony Corp. of America (NYSE:SNE - news), Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW - news), Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN - news), and others. To learn more, visit www.pv.com.
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) offers the complete range of mobile solutions including mobile devices, infrastructure and applications. Devices include mobile phones, wireless modules, mobile organizers and cordless phones as well as products for wireless home networks. The infrastructure portfolio includes GSM, GPRS and 3G mobile network technologies from base stations and switching systems to intelligent networks, e.g. for prepaid services. Mobile Applications cover end-to-end solutions for Messaging, Location Based Services or Mobile Payment. For the fiscal year 2001 (September 30), IC Mobile recorded sales of EUR 11.3 billion and employed 30,730 people worldwide.
You can access further information about Siemens IC Mobile on the Internet at http://www.siemens-mobile.com
You can access press releases, photographs and further information on the Internet at: http://www.siemens-mobile.com/press
Information for Readers: info.solution@icn.siemens.de
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
PacketVideo
Text 100 for PacketVideo in Europe
Vanessa Mato, + 44 (0) 20 89964193
vanessam@text100.co.uk
or
Imagio/JWT for PacketVideo in the U.S.
Kathy Gorohoff or Kari Swartz, 206/625-0252
kathyg@imagio.com or karis@imagio.com
or
Siemens
Information and Communication Mobile Solutions
Marion Bludszuweit
D-81379 Munich, +49-89 722 50483, Fax -55880
Marion.Bludszuweit@icn.siemens.de
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Nokia offers design kit to rivals, facing Microsoft
NEW YORK, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Top-ranked mobile phone maker Nokia said on Monday it would offer other mobile handset suppliers a complete design kit for making Internet-ready phones, seeking to stave off a push by Microsoft Corp. into the mobile market.
The move by Nokia, maker of one of every three mobile phones sold globally, takes aim at computer software giant Microsoft (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news), which said earlier on Monday it was offering phone makers a standard kit of software and computer chips to build new ``smartphones'.
The Finnish mobile phone maker said in a statement released in Cannes, France with circuit-making partner Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN - news) that they would deliver by autumn 2002 blueprints for other phone makers to design their own models.
Following through on a commitment made in November, Nokia said the company would open up its terminal software for use by industry rivals, combined with TI's semiconductor hardware and the Symbian mobile phone operating system.
Both companies made their announcements ahead of this week's 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, the biggest annual trade fair for the world's mobile communications industry.
The potential appeal of these offers by Microsoft and Nokia is that they allow phone makers to cut their own development costs and focus instead on differentiating their brands by being the first to offer distinctive features or new services.
These include the capacity to offer multimedia text and picture messaging, or simpler access to corporate email or common business software programs, to mention just a few of the growing ranges of functions from such higher-powered phones.
Not to be counted out, U.S.-based Motorola Inc (NYSE:MOT - news), also said on Monday it would work with mobile network operators directly to help them develop services that cash in on higher data speeds allowed by soon-to-arrive upgraded networks.
Nokia is seeking to rally other mobile phone makers in Europe, the United States and Asia in order to rebuff inroads being made by Microsoft into an industry where each cellphone maker has previously relied on its own custom-designed technology.
By contrast, Microsoft is working with both Texas Instruments, the leading maker of circuits used in mobile phones, and Intel Corp. (NasdaqNM:INTC - news), the biggest computer chip maker, to offer a version of Microsoft's PocketPC handheld computer operating system software for use in mobile phones.
In striking deals with both Nokia and Microsoft, Texas Instruments is seeking to benefit no matter who wins the software battle.
The battle to define a new generation of phones capable of handing high-speed Internet data without sacrificing any voice-calling capabilities parallels the decade-old battle Microsoft fought and won to set a common standard for the personal computer industry through its Windows software.
The latest generation of networks capable of handling high-speed Internet data represent a historic opening for Microsoft into the market for small devices such as cell phones, which will soon pack computer chips more powerful than most desktop computers only five years ago.
Microsoft is betting that consumers and employees will want to read their email and messages in a format that resembles their computer email.
For its part, Nokia also hopes to speed development of the market for new smartphones capable of doing double duty as both phones and business-ready handheld computers.
The industry has been suffering a steep downturn in the past year as the market for voice-only phones reached a saturation point, especially in Europe and North America.
Nokia's so-called Series 60 software system for smart phones works with many of the latest programming technologies, including XHTML, multimedia messaging service, and Java that allows phone companies to develop customized new services that tap the Internet.
Of the top five cellphone manufacturers, only Samsung Electronics has said it would use Microsoft Windows-powered Smartphone 2002 software. The South Korean company, the world's fourth largest cellphone maker, is expected to launch a Microsoft-based product at the end of this year.
Texas Instruments' OMAP(TM)710 Processor Powers New HP Jornada 928 Wireless Digital Assistant
TI's TCS2500 GSM/GPRS Chipset With an OMAP710 Processor Delivers High Performance and Optimal Battery Life for 2.5 and 3G Applications
CANNES, France, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN - news; TI) today announced that its OMAP(TM) processor powers Hewlett-Packard Company's first full-color wireless digital assistant (WDA) -- the HP Jornada 928 WDA -- unveiled by HP at 3GSM World Congress. The HP Jornada 928 WDA harnesses the unique combination of power and performance of the OMAP710 processor, which delivers wireless data and voice to any wireless handheld device, to easily and effortlessly run advanced wireless applications, including enhanced voice, data and basic multimedia.
TI's TCS2500 GSM/GPRS chipset, which features the widely adopted OMAP710 single-chip and dedicated applications processor, brings integrated wireless data, voice and multimedia connectivity to the GPRS/GSM-enabled HP Jornada device. Leveraging TI's wireless silicon and software solutions with the Microsoft® Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition platform, the HP Jornada 928 WDA brings mobile professionals and enterprise customers a seamlessly integrated phone and personal information management functionality in a single, robust device.
``HP's decision to use TI's OMAP processors and GSM/GPRS technology shows growing momentum for TI in the 2.5 and 3G wireless handheld space,'' said Gerry Purdy, president and CEO of Mobile Insights. ``It also demonstrates TI's ability to enable its customers to quickly and easily deliver truly sophisticated wireless devices.''
``The highly integrated, power-efficient OMAP platform delivers HP Jornada 928 WDA users unparalleled performance and allows HP to provide its customers with quick and responsive multimedia applications while simultaneously extending battery life,'' said Rick Kornfeld, vice president of TI's Wireless Chipset Business. ``Simply put, the OMAP platform enables handheld device manufacturers to build and offer robust products, like the HP Jornada 928 WDA, that meet, if not exceed, consumers' expectations for 2.5 and 3G devices.''
Major industry leaders in the wireless handset and handheld computing markets are increasingly choosing TI's OMAP processors to power their 2.5 and 3G devices. Additionally, TI's extensive OMAP Developer Network is creating a variety of new, innovative wireless applications, such as multimedia, gaming, secure mobile commerce, streaming video and Internet audio, based on the OMAP platform. The OMAP platform provides a foundation for enabling these cool, new applications and enables high-performance and low power consumption -- essential features for any mobile device.
``HP chose TI's OMAP710 processor for our feature-rich WDA because we wanted to offer consumers the multimedia, voice and data features they desire, while at the same time extend battery life,'' said Kok-Khoon Lim, general manager of HP's Jornada Organization. ``This newest addition to the HP Jornada line-up brings the next generation of integrated voice and data in a small, sleek device to the user on the go.''
To view the HP Jornada 928 WDA, please visit the HP Booth, number A10, or the TI booth, number E18 at GSM World Congress.
Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ti.com .
Please refer all reader inquiries to: Texas Instruments Incorporated
Semiconductor Group, SC-02024
Literature Response Center
P.O. Box 954
Santa Clara, CA 91380
1-800-477-8924, ext. 4500
OMAP is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated. Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft and Texas Instruments Introduce Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 and OMAP Reference Design
New 2.5G Reference Design Combines Strengths of Smartphone 2002 Software And TI's OMAP Processors to Enable Rich Voice and Data-Capable Phones In Small, Sleek Form Factor
CANNES, France, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wireless equipment manufacturers can now quickly deliver high-quality 2.5G smart phone devices with the help of a complete reference package combining Microsoft® Windows® Powered Smartphone 2002 software running on high-performance, low-power OMAP(TM) processors and GPRS technology from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN - news). The smart phone solution pushes platform integration to a new level and offers users voice, data and multimedia capabilities such as mobile access to e-mail and personal information, robust Web-browsing capabilities, audio and video playback and streaming, and rich gaming. Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) and Texas Instruments announced their combined package at the 3GSM World Congress 2002 in Cannes.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
``Utilizing Microsoft and TI's leading-edge technologies, the new smart phone reference design will make the transition from 2.5G product concept to production fast and simple for handset manufacturers,'' said Ben Waldman, vice president of the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft. ``This advanced reference design showcases the strengths of Smartphone 2002 and the performance of TI's complete wireless silicon and software solutions by making them available in a powerful, ready-to-manufacture platform that enables small, lightweight smart phones of approximately 110 cubic centimeters and 100 grams.''
Smartphone 2002 software will deliver the applications and functionality users expect in next-generation wireless solutions. When coupled with Microsoft back-end servers and services, the Smartphone 2002 software will be a premier platform that provides network operators and corporate customers with the power of mobile services and Internet access in a small, lightweight mobile phone form factor.
From a hardware perspective, the Smartphone 2002 reference design is based on TI's TCS2500 chipset and reference design. Released in December 2001, the TCS2500 chipset leverages TI's more than 10 years' experience in providing advanced wireless technology. The TCS2500 includes key 2.5G building blocks for fast product development: the single-chip OMAP710 DSP-based GSM/GPRS digital baseband engine with a dedicated applications processor, analog baseband and RF companion chips, as well as complete software solutions with protocol stacks.
Manufacturers also benefit from TI's extensive wireless systems solutions and broad base of software developers who are creating new, innovative applications targeting TI's OMAP processors and complete chipsets.
``Devices based on the new TI-powered Microsoft Smartphone 2002 designs will provide advanced data and voice functionality and new applications for wireless users,'' said Rick Kornfeld, vice president and general manager for TI's wireless chipset business. ``Plus, the new smart phone reference solution is a proven, ready-to-manufacture reference design that gives manufacturers a simple, fast and direct approach for getting new products with enhanced data capabilities in their customers' hands.''
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. The company's businesses also include sensors and controls, and educational and productivity solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com /.
About Microsoft Windows Powered Smartphone 2002
The Microsoft Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 software delivers a personal and powerful mobile phone giving customers the ability to communicate via voice and text and access to their most essential information any time, anywhere. Familiar and powerful software coupled with a small, sleek form factor including brilliant color displays sets Windows Powered Smartphones apart from other phones on the market. Smartphone 2002 provides a wealth of services, such as secure corporate data and Web access, e-mail, up-to-date PIM functionality, and multimedia capabilities on a high-quality mobile phone.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
NOTE: Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Microsoft Corp.
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Alcatel, Compaq, Packet Video Team to Deliver Music Videos on Mobile Devices
Business/High Tech Editors
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2002--Alcatel (NYSE:ALA), Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) and Packet Video, leaders in the delivery of mobile multimedia services, are demonstrating at the 3GSM World Congress the instant delivery of music video charts and clips over GPRS (General Packet Radio Services)-enabled pocket PCs.
This paves the way to an end-to-end mobile streaming solution delivered over UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)-enabled devices, with data transmission rates up to two megabits per second. This is a massive growth market, as music downloads are considered one of the fastest-growing, highest-demand services for personal devices.
In the demo, the user browses a GPRS-enabled Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC, a tiny handheld computer, to view a list of the current music charts. Once users select a music video, they can choose the most appropriate means of payment and stream the video clip. A 25-second clip is free, or the full-length video is available for a small fee. For service providers, on the other hand, real-time billing of streaming allows them to adapt their billing to the ratio of the service provided. Visitors can take a first glance at this joint demonstration at the 3GSM World Congress, held at Cannes from February 19 through 22.
"By combining our IT and telecom strengths, Compaq and Alcatel are able to provide profitable audio/video streaming solutions for the high potential 2.5/3G market," said Jenny Newton, EMEA vice president of Compaq's Telecom Division. "Compaq is already a leader with its rich product and services portfolio for the IT infrastructure industry, management of audio and video content, and personal access devices such as the iPAQ. This represents the next step in meeting the needs of this dynamic and rapidly growing market."
"This demonstration is further proof of Alcatel's extensive knowledge of telecom networks and telecom software integration," said Jean-Philippe Haag, vice president of Alcatel's Network Applications Division. "We have the skills to provide end-to-end mobile solutions. Through this alliance Alcatel and Compaq lead the industry in delivering viable, secure and desirable state-of-the-art streaming solutions."
About Alcatel
Alcatel designs, develops and builds innovative and competitive communications networks, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver any type of content, such as voice, data and multimedia, to any type of consumer, anywhere in the world. Relying on its leading and comprehensive products and solutions portfolio, stretching from end-to-end optical infrastructures, fixed and mobile networks to broadband access, Alcatel's customers can focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of Euro 25 billion in 2001 and 99,000 employees, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, http://www.alcatel.com.
RealNetworks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the global leader in Internet media
delivery, today announced that RealOne(TM) Player is optimized for Intel(R)
Personal Internet Client Architecture (Intel PCA) applications processors.
The RealOne Player for mobile devices includes patent pending technologies
designed for limited resource devices: consumers can now enjoy high-
resolution video at full frame rates with full spectral bandwidth stereo audio
on their mobile devices.
Mobile electronics handset manufacturers that use the Intel(R) StrongARM*
SA-1110 and Intel(R) PXA250 and Intel(R) PXA210 applications processors will
be able to provide their customers easy access to audio and video programming
through RealNetworks industry-leading RealAudio(R), RealVideo(R), and 3GPP
compliant H.263v2 and MPEG4 video in the RealOne Player. This enables
consumers to enjoy rich media on their wireless PDAs, smartphones and other
mobile devices anytime, anywhere.
"Intel's expertise in creating high performance, low power processors
combined with RealNetworks award winning audio and video technology is a
powerful combination," said Dan Sheeran, vice president, Media Systems,
RealNetworks, Inc. "Today's announcement builds on our years of working
together and ultimately benefits consumers, allowing them to have high quality
media experiences on mobile devices."
"One of Intel's goals with the Intel PXA210 and Intel PXA250 applications
processors is to provide users with a device that offers broad support and
performance for enterprise and consumer targeted devices," said Peter Green,
general manager for the Handheld Computing Division at Intel. "We are pleased
to work with RealNetworks to realize this goal with RealOne Player which will
provide customers with rich audio and video capabilities on their mobile
devices."
About RealSystem(R) Mobile
Announced today, RealSystem Mobile is an end-to-end, software system for
creation, delivery and playback of 3GPP compliant and RealAudio and RealVideo
content for mobile networks. RealSystem Mobile includes RealSystem Producer,
RealSystem Mobile Server, RealSystem Mobile Gateway and RealOne Player. See
release --
http://www.realnetworks.com/company/press/releases/2002/rsmobile.html .
Hewlett-Packard is expected to unveil a new version of its Jornada handheld in Europe that can make cell phone calls and send and receive e-mail wirelessly.
The Jornada 928 Wireless Digital Assistant is powered by Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system, in tandem with the software company's latest application, Phone Edition. The application, expected to be unveiled at the 3GSM World Congress conference in Cannes, France, allows handhelds running Pocket PC to send and receive data, such as e-mail, as well as to make voice calls.
HP is also expected to unveil the new Jornada at the Cannes conference Tuesday.
The company is one of many handheld makers looking to push wireless services, but it is the first to use the Pocket PC 2002 operating system. Alternative handhelds using the Palm operating system already have products on the market.
Palm's second-generation wireless handheld, the i705, provides “always-on” wireless e-mail access through the company's Palm.net service. Competitor Handspring on Feb. 10 began selling its Treo communicator, a Palm OS-based handheld that doubles as a cell phone.
As the battle for market share in the handheld industry heats up, manufacturers continue to look for ways to add new capabilities to their products as a way to explore new sources of revenue and grab new customers. Business applications, such as wireless e-mail, have been at the forefront of many companies' strategies, taking a cue from the popularity of Research In Motion's BlackBerry e-mail pagers.
The Jornada will allow voice calls over GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks. In addition, the Jornada incorporates voice-activated dialing and wireless Web surfing.
A device similar to the one launched initially in Europe and Asia this summer will be available in the United States by the end of 2002. Pricing for the Jornada device and the required wireless service has not been set.
The Jornada uses a 133MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 710 processor and contains 64MB of memory and a lithium-polymer rechargeable battery. Like its predecessors, the Jornada comes with a CompactFlash Type I slot for expansion cards. The device is 0.7 inches thick, 3.1 inches wide and 5.4 inches long, and weighs 6.8 ounces.
Feb 19 - Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp and Texas Instruments Inc. on Tuesday announced blueprints for new cellphones and handheld computer phones.
Breaking with the tradition of custom-designed technology for each cellphone manufacturer, the three companies will work to develop so-called reference designs, which, if adopted by enough vendors, could establish these blueprints as standards for much of the industry.
The companies aim to repeat what they have done to the personal computer industry, where Microsoft and Intel have standardised key software and semiconductor hardware, with the Windows operating system software and Pentium processors. Each product has more than 80 percent share of their respective markets.
The U.S. companies made their announcements at the 3GSM World Congress here, Europe's largest trade show for the wireless industry, which is still dominated by European companies such as Ericsson and Nokia.
But at the same time, analysts noted that Microsoft hadn't made a great deal of headway since last year's GSM conference, when it signalled its intent to go after the smartphone market. Microsoft has developed such designs before, for handheld computers and so-called tablet PCs.
"Microsoft still doesn't have any products to show for," said Gartner analyst Ben Wood.
In separate deals with Microsoft, semiconductor makers Intel and Texas Instruments will work together to develop integrated chips and software that can turn a handheld computer into a mobile phone, ready to make calls and download corporate email.
An Intel spokesman said that his company and Microsoft would have a design available later this year. Texas Instruments already has a product developed.
For its part, Microsoft is backing Intel's PCA technology, which is a blueprint that the chipmaker is pushing as a standard for next-generation wireless phones and handheld computers that work with its XScale processors. Intel, in turn, is backing Microsoft's PocketPC Phone operating system, which is gaining ground against the Palm Inc. operating system.
Smartphones and personal digital assistant (PDA) phones are different categories. PDA phones are handheld computers that are mainly used for wireless data communications, but they can double as a phone. Smartphones are first and foremost light voice phones, and get their "smarts" from the ability to display diaries, receive email and play music files.
Microsoft is betting that consumers and employees will want to read their email and messages in a format that resembles their computer email.
SMARTPHONE COLLISION
Microsoft is taking on a mobile phone industry that is already facing increased competition in low-end cellphones from Asian electronics makers. The industry had hoped the smartphone segment would remain an exclusive, high-end business for the next few years.
Microsoft will have to fight an uphill battle as many cellphone vendors have stakes in Britain's Symbian, which is currently rolling out its own smartphone software that can handle email, calendars and messages.
Symbian is backed by four of the world's top five cellphone makers, which make 70 percent of all cellphones produced worldwide. SonyEricsson and Nokia have already launched their first smartphones that run on Symbian.
Intel, in August 2001, said it and Symbian would collaborate. Symbian software allows for greater compatibility between different smartphones than its Microsoft counterpart.
Of the top five cellphone manufacturers, only Samsung has said it will use Microsoft Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 software. The South Korean company, the world's fourth largest cellphone maker, is expected to launch a Microsoft-based product at the end of this year.
Japan's Mitsubishi and Britain's Sendo are the only other cellphone makers to use Microsoft Smartphone software, with Sendo closest to a commercial launch.
PDA PHONES
The situation is different for phone-enabled PDAs, where Microsoft faces competition from Handspring, Nokia and Canada's Research In Motion.
Microsoft on Tuesday boasted two new clients for its Pocket PC Phone edition. One is Hewlett-Packard, which will introduce a PDA (personal digital assistant) phone based on the TI-Microsoft platform. HP said the device will on the shelves in June.
Taiwanese peer Compal, which already produces Compaq's iPAQ Pocket PC, said it will also use Microsoft phone software.
The first Pocket PC Phones will hit the shelves almost simultaneously with Handspring's Treo. The Treo, based on Palm software, is lighter and smaller than its Microsoft rivals.
However, the partnerships with Intel and Texas Instruments have given Microsoft powerful allies to quickly gain support and extend its lead in this product category, which is already quite similar to the PC industry, said Gartner's Wood. (Additional reporting by Scott Hillis in Seattle, Wash.)
The company is one of many handheld makers looking to push wireless services, but it is the first to use the Pocket PC 2002 operating system. Alternative handhelds using the Palm operating system already have products on the market.
Palm's second-generation wireless handheld, the i705, provides “always-on” wireless e-mail access through the company's Palm.net service. Competitor Handspring on Feb. 10 began selling its Treo communicator, a Palm OS-based handheld that doubles as a cell phone.
As the battle for market share in the handheld industry heats up, manufacturers continue to look for ways to add new capabilities to their products as a way to explore new sources of revenue and grab new customers. Business applications, such as wireless e-mail, have been at the forefront of many companies' strategies, taking a cue from the popularity of Research In Motion's BlackBerry e-mail pagers.
The Jornada will allow voice calls over GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks. In addition, the Jornada incorporates voice-activated dialing and wireless Web surfing.
A device similar to the one launched initially in Europe and Asia this summer will be available in the United States by the end of 2002. Pricing for the Jornada device and the required wireless service has not been set.
The Jornada uses a 133MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 710 processor and contains 64MB of memory and a lithium-polymer rechargeable battery. Like its predecessors, the Jornada comes with a CompactFlash Type I slot for expansion cards. The device is 0.7 inches thick, 3.1 inches wide and 5.4 inches long, and weighs 6.8 ounces.
Motorola Launches Complete 3G GSM/UMTS Solution
February 18, 2002]
Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS) announced its i.300 Innovative Convergence Platform -- a comprehensive silicon-to-software solution for 3G GSM/UMTS wireless products. The i.300 platform gives OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and ODMs (original design manufacturers) best-in-class 3G technology -- including an advanced chipset, image and video processing, an industry-leading development environment, and full support -- for rapidly building feature-rich multimedia phones and video-communicators
"We are well-positioned to deliver best-in-class 3G complete system solutions," said Pete Shinyeda, corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola's Wireless and Broadband Systems Group. "We have been developing and testing 3G technologies for the past five years. This platform brings together all of Motorola's extensive experience and serves as a catalyst to the industry in helping to create the 3G market for multimedia and infotainment consumer applications."
"With the i.300 platform, OEMs and ODMs can develop and deliver products more quickly with a full range of mobile voice, data, and video communications without spending years of development time," said Shinyeda.
The i.300 platform represents a culmination of Motorola's 70 years of wireless expertise, 50 years in semiconductors and two decades of cellular leadership. Based on a first generation platform that is being launched into the market this year as Motorola's first 3G handset (A820), the i.300 is designed to provide manufacturers with a fully featured solution for this emerging market. Designed to function as a seamless, integrated total system solution, the i.300 platform:
Reduces 3G development and integration costs with innovative architecture.
Uses GSM/UMTS software engines to maximize performance and compatibility with today's networks.
Includes state-of the-art image and video capture as well as compression technology that complies with JPEG, MPEG-4 and H.263 standards.
Simplifies and eases application development with compact, ultra-fast Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME) technology-the Motorola Embedded Reference Implementation (MERI), designed to enable Java developers to quickly port applications to the mobile environment.
Provides a full range of multimedia and "infotainment" support, such as Internet access, still imaging, and streaming video and audio.
Features chipset and communication software capable of supporting GSM, EDGE, and W-CDMA services.
Includes an ARM(R) core-based DragonBall CPU (Motorola's industry-leading handheld applications processor family) that provides a range of competitive multimedia, email and interactive gaming applications.
Supports the Bluetooth platform solution from Motorola, a comprehensive system solution with exceptional performance and high- quality audio.
"Motorola is building strong relationships with its customers as we build on our knowledge with each generation of the i.300 platform. In fact, key customers are providing input today that will drive our next platform enhancements, which are being architected now. These customers are reaping the benefits of our 3G development expertise, which will help transform the nature of communications," said Shinyeda.
The i.300 platform's GSM/UMTS software engine reflects Motorola's many decades as a wireless software leader with industry firsts in cellular, GSM and GPRS technologies. This robust 2.5/3G engine enables manufacturers to focus on differentiating their 3G products through application software and a customized user experience.
A range of additional features further supports platform development and speeds time to market: a reference Man-Machine Interface (MMI) provides a typical cellular application feature-set; a Radio Test Environment (RTE) enhances radio development and performance optimization; a platform reference design reduces cycle time and investment; the Manufacturing Test Environment (MTE) supports type approval and production line test requirements; and extensive access to third-party solutions (WAP browser, multimedia, and more) gives manufacturers the option of adding a wide range of features and applications to differentiate their products.
The first generation 3G development platform is scheduled for production in the second half of 2002 to support Motorola's A820 multi-functional voice/data solution. The i.300 platform is in execution mode, with sampling expected during the second half of 2003 for key alpha merchant market customers. To continue to drive Motorola leadership solutions to the 3G market space, architectural work and product definition are already underway for the next generation of the i.300 platform.
The i.300 platform is supported by the industry-leading CodeWarrior integrated development environment (IDE) and toolset from Metrowerks, a Motorola company. The CodeWarrior tools for ARM are optimized for DragonBall microprocessors, and vastly accelerate the creation of compelling content for next-generation mobile communication products.
Fonix and Motorola’s mobileGT Enable Rapid Development of Automotive Speech Recognition Systems
Fonix Debuts the Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT: Dialog Builder for Automotive Speech Applications
NUREMBERG, Germany - February 19, 2002 - Fonix® Corporation (OTC BB: FONX), a leading provider of voice solutions for wireless and mobile devices, and Motorola’s (NYSE: MOT) Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS), the leading provider of semiconductors to the automotive industry, today announced the integration of Fonix Embedded Speech Software Development Kit (SDK) for mobileGT™ embedded speech technology with Motorola’s mobileGT development platform. Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT makes it easy for manufacturers to develop speech recognition applications for automotive telematics systems, allowing hands-free management of everything from radios and climate controls to security systems.
Dedicated to developing new generations of automobile safety, communications, information, navigation, entertainment, and telematics capabilities, Fonix and Motorola, along with nearly a dozen other software and hardware providers, have brought automakers and tier-one manufacturers a comprehensive, recognized platform under the mobileGT name. The mobileGT development platform is the leading automotive telematics development platform and is scaleable across a wide range of products, allowing manufacturers to leverage a common development approach while providing product differentiation through tailored applications and system integration such as dynamic navigation, wireless connectivity and Internet access, natural language speech processing, car audio, virtual dashboards, multimedia, and more.
The Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT is a speech dialog-building tool that couples Fonix’s advanced speech recognition and speech generation capabilities with user-designed dialogs. The resulting dialog-based application is downloaded into the mobileGT platform where it can be tested and refined in the noisy automotive environment. By providing automobile drivers with hands free controls, it enhances commuters’ safety and satisfaction. For example, now commuters can access email while stuck in traffic, hear it read to them while waiting at the stoplight, and safely send messages without fumbling for buttons or knobs. Fonix’s safe and sound technology enables hands-free electronic speech in the connected family car. Commuters can access the Internet with no more distraction than speaking with a front-seat passenger. They can change the radio station or turn off the air conditioner with simple voice commands.
“Fonix is excited to provide this significant step in the development of automotive interactive speech capabilities,” said Kurt Flygare, vice president of sales for Fonix. “By releasing the Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT, we’re providing Motorola’s automotive technology partners around the world the opportunity to integrate Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) and Text-to-Speech (TTS) capabilities into their next-generation products.”
“The Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT is on the leading edge of today’s market,” said Bill Pfaff, vice president and director of Motorola’s Driver Information Systems operation. “Its neural network architecture lets the driver talk to devices in the noisy environment of an automobile: no need to train the system to recognize his or her voice. On the text-to-speech side, the Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT uses award-winning concatenated techniques to create speech with natural inflections, pauses, and changes in pitch. We are enthusiastic about the release of the Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT and look forward to assisting our partners in the development of new voice interface capabilities.”
30-Day Evaluation Copy, Sample Applications
Motorola’s mobileGT MPC823e Standard Development Platform now includes a 30-day evaluation copy of the Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT, along with several sample speech applications demonstrating the features of the Fonix SDK, and a Fonix hands-free speech demo, all of which run on the mobileGT Standard Development Platform.
Rapid Development Environment
A one-stop shop for automotive telematics applications, mobileGT’s inclusion of the Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT provides the most efficient way yet to develop voice-enabled automotive applications. A Windows-based rapid prototype development environment, the Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT contains straightforward Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and sample programs to accelerate the development process. The Fonix SDK’s visual interface and graphical representation of elements make it easy to prototype, optimize, test, and debug speech applications.
By leveraging the mobileGT Development Platform, the Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT lowers the overall cost of development. The application's ability to operate using only a fraction of available computing resources during speech recognition also lowers the cost. Fonix neural networks provide optimal functionality, while using minimal memory. Development applications are upgradeable to support future versions of mobileGT architecture.
Applications built with the Fonix SDK can read text from a contact manager, email, or the Internet. If the application uses a specialized list of words, Fonix can generate a customized soundbank, providing speech that is virtually indistinguishable from the human voice.
The Fonix Embedded Speech SDK for mobileGT is fully integrated with the mobileGT MPC823e Standard Development Platform, which is now available for purchase through Metrowerks, a subsidiary of Motorola.
About Fonix Corporation
Fonix Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: FONX) is a leading provider of natural-user interface technology solutions for wireless and mobile devices, Internet and telephony systems, and vehicle telematics. Leading chip manufacturers, independent software and hardware vendors, and Internet content and service providers incorporate Fonix technology to provide their customers with an easier and more convenient user experience. Fonix products, including Text-To-Speech (TTS), Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), and Handwriting Recognition (HWR), provide the most natural communication solutions available. For additional information, visit www.fonix.com, or contact a Fonix representative at (801) 553-6600.
About Motorola
As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola’s Semiconductor Products Sector creates DigitalDNA™ system-on-chip solutions for a connected world. Our strong focus on wireless communications and networking enables customers to develop smarter, simpler, faster and synchronized products for the person, work team, home and automobile. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $4.9 billion (USD) in 2001. http://www.motorola.com/semiconductors
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2001 were $30 billion. http://www.motorola.com
PDAs Intel-Texas Instruments Battle Heats Up
Arik Hesseldahl, Forbes.com, 02.19.02, 5:00 AM ET
NEW YORK - As the battle to supply chips to handheld computer and mobile phone manufacturers intensifies, Texas Instruments (TI) and Intel are expected to make significant announcements today concerning a line of new devices that combine mobile phones with handheld PDAs.
At a wireless-industry conference held in Cannes, France, the 3GSM World Conference, TI (nyse: TXN - news - people) was expected to demonstrate a new version of Hewlett-Packard's (nyse: HWP - news - people) Jornada line of devices using a TI chip. Most recent PocketPC devices have used Intel-made chips.
HP's Next Jornada: Contains chips from Texas Instruments
The Jornada 928 combines a PDA based on Microsoft's (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people) PocketPC operating system with a mobile phone capable of handling e-mail and Web access using a technology called General Packet Radio Service. GPRS is a new wireless technology that allows an always-on Internet connection for e-mail and Web access while also allowing voice phone calls. The device will ship first to markets in Europe, where wireless carriers are moving faster to adopt GPRS than in the U.S.
The deal comes as Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people) recently took aim at TI's wireless chip business with the release last week of its XScale line of chips for use in both mobile phones and PDA devices.
Additionally, TI and Intel were both expected to announce separately that they have crafted collaboration agreements with Microsoft to develop and sell reference designs for SmartPhones. Once known under the code name Stinger, Microsoft's SmartPhone 2002 platform combines the PocketPC operating system with the look and feel of a mobile phone. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates unveiled the company's plans for the platform at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month.
Both joint plans, launched in parallel, call for Microsoft to develop, in collaboration with the chipmakers, everything a manufacturer would need to build a SmartPhone device, from the chips and other electronic components to the software, except the outside plastic shell and physical design elements. The intention is to make it easy for manufacturers to create SmartPhones easily.
"The idea is to have a licensee go from design to production of a device in only a few months," says Richard Kersleke, TI's marketing manager for wireless products.
The plans are similar in concept to one launched by Motorola's (nyse: MOT - news - people) semiconductors division last year. The company said it would offer everything a phone manufacturer would need to build a phone except the plastic shell. The key difference with TI's and Intel's respective plans is that both call for producing phones that run Microsoft's operating system software.
While both TI and Intel stand to benefit from their respective deals, the big winner is Microsoft, which is pushing ahead aggressively to promote its handheld platform in a campaign to overtake Palm (nasdaq: PALM - news - people). Palm is busily readying a massive upgrade of both the software and hardware for its Palm handheld devices, as well as those made by Handspring (nasdaq: HAND - news - people), Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people) and others.
RealNetworks launches mobile media products
Posted on Tue, Feb. 19, 2002
SEATTLE (Reuters) - RealNetworks Inc. Tuesday unveiled new software for sending audio and video over wireless networks, the latest step by the Internet media pioneer to get a foothold in the nascent mobile market.
Seattle-based RealNetworks is launching RealSystem Mobile, a version of its RealSystem iQ software that Web site operators and corporate networks use to broadcast video and audio over the Internet.
The company also announced deals with Intel Corp. to optimize Real's software for use with the microprocessor giant's chips for mobile phones and handheld computers, and with consultancy Cap Gemini Ernst & Young to offer customers a package combining Real's technology and Cap Gemini's operational services.
Real, best known for its RealOne software for playing music or video on a personal computer, is also preparing to launch a version of RealOne for Pocket PC handheld computers based on Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system.
``Real has been thinking about the world beyond the PC for some time,'' Sharon Goldstein, a product manager for mobile services, said in an interview. ``So we consider this to be our coming out party.''
The Mobile version of RealSystem builds in extra features that focus on sending such content to a variety of portable devices like smart cell phones and handheld computers fitted with wireless connections, Goldstein said.
The new software debuts as Real is seeing sales of its regular systems software bottom out. The core systems business was badly knocked by the dot-com implosion and the slowing economy, which crimped corporate technology budgets.
While executives have said systems growth will restart this year, Real isn't expecting a quick payoff from mobile multimedia services, which Goldstein compared to the advent of audio on the Internet about 7 years ago, when the Web was limited to pokey speeds that allowed only tinny audio to seep through.
``What we see as being compelling are audio applications and short, location-specific video,'' Goldstein said. ``We see this as very similar to how the Internet developed.''
Real has laid other stepping stones on the path to mobile services, such as deals with Texas Instruments and Hitachi, two major makers of mobile phone chips, to support its media technology. Mobile phone giant Nokia is also using Real's software, most visibly on its groundbreaking 9210 device that combines a phone with a color screen and digital organizer.
RealSystem Mobile will be able to send content to networks based on different technologies, from so-called 2.5G low-speed services being deployed in the United States to faster 3G networks that Europe and Asia are focusing on.
The system can also serve up video content in the budding MPEG-4 format, which is widely seen as the future of Internet-based video but is still tied up with licensing and technical issues.
Real, which has managed to offer a successful subscription service through RealOne for the PC market, will also work with mobile companies to sell similar services for mobile devices, Goldstein said.
Microsoft, Intel, TI in mobile tie-ups
By Reuters
February 18, 2002, 6:25 PM PT
CANNES, France--Technology giants Microsoft, Intel and Texas Instruments on Tuesday announced blueprints for new cell phones and handheld computer phones.
Breaking with the tradition of custom-designed technology for each cell phone manufacturer, the three companies will work to develop so-called reference designs, which, if adopted by enough vendors, could establish these blueprints as standards for much of the industry.
The companies aim to repeat what they have done to the personal computer industry, where Microsoft and Intel have standardized key software and semiconductor hardware, with the Windows operating system software and Pentium processors. Each product has more than 80 percent share of their respective markets.
The companies made their announcements at the 3GSM World Congress here, Europe's largest trade show for the wireless industry, which is still dominated by European companies such as Ericsson and Nokia.
But at the same time, analysts noted that Microsoft hadn't made a great deal of headway since last year's GSM conference, when it signaled its intent to go after the smartphone market. Microsoft has developed such designs before, for handheld computers and so-called tablet PCs.
"Microsoft still doesn't have any products to show for," said Gartner analyst Ben Wood.
In separate deals with Microsoft, semiconductor makers Intel and Texas Instruments will work together to develop integrated chips and software that can turn a handheld computer into a mobile phone, ready to make calls and download corporate e-mail.
An Intel spokesman said that his company and Microsoft would have a design available later this year. Texas Instruments already has a product developed.
For its part, Microsoft is backing Intel's PCA technology, which is a blueprint that the chipmaker is pushing as a standard for next-generation wireless phones and handheld computers that work with its XScale processors. Intel, in turn, is backing Microsoft's PocketPC Phone operating system, which is gaining ground against the Palm operating system.
Smartphones and personal digital assistant (PDA) phones are different categories. PDA phones are handheld computers that are mainly used for wireless data communications, but they can double as a phone. Smartphones are first and foremost light voice phones, and get their "smarts" from the ability to display diaries, receive email and play music files.
Microsoft is betting that consumers and employees will want to read their e-mail and messages in a format that resembles their computer e-mail.
Microsoft is taking on a mobile phone industry that is already facing increased competition in low-end cell phones from Asian electronics makers. The industry had hoped the smartphone segment would remain an exclusive, high-end business for the next few years.
Microsoft will have to fight an uphill battle as many cell phone vendors have stakes in Britain's Symbian, which is currently rolling out its own smartphone software that can handle e-mail, calendars and messages.
Symbian is backed by four of the world's top five cell phone makers, which make 70 percent of all cell phones produced worldwide. SonyEricsson and Nokia have already launched their first smartphones that run on Symbian.
Intel, in August 2001, said it and Symbian would collaborate. Symbian software allows for greater compatibility between different smartphones than its Microsoft counterpart.
Of the top five cell phone manufacturers, only Samsung has said it will use Microsoft Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 software. The South Korean company, the world's fourth largest cell phone maker, is expected to launch a Microsoft-based product at the end of this year.
Japan's Mitsubishi and Britain's Sendo are the only other cell phone makers to use Microsoft Smartphone software, with Sendo closest to a commercial launch.
The situation is different for phone-enabled PDAs, where Microsoft faces competition from Handspring, Nokia and Canada's Research In Motion.
Microsoft on Tuesday boasted two new clients for its Pocket PC Phone edition. One is Hewlett-Packard, which will introduce a PDA phone based on the TI-Microsoft platform. HP said the device will on the shelves in June.
Taiwanese peer Compal, which already produces Compaq's iPAQ Pocket PC, said it will also use Microsoft phone software.
The first Pocket PC Phones will hit the shelves almost simultaneously with Handspring's Treo. The Treo, based on Palm software, is lighter and smaller than its Microsoft rivals.
However, the partnerships with Intel and Texas Instruments have given Microsoft powerful allies to quickly gain support and extend its lead in this product category, which is already quite similar to the PC industry, said Gartner's Wood.
RealNetworks heeds the wireless call
By Ben Charny
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
February 19, 2002, 5:40 AM PT
update RealNetworks on Tuesday unveiled RealSystem Mobile software that wireless carriers could use to offer streaming music and video to subscribers.
Mark Donovan, RealNetworks group manager of products and services, said the company is in talks with several carriers, but no deals have been signed yet. AT&T Wireless used RealSystem Mobile during a trial period, according to Donovan.
The new software includes RealSystem Producer, for creating digital content intended for cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and laptops; RealSystem Mobile Server, for delivering live and on-demand content; RealSystem Mobile Gateway, a proxy-caching tool for optimizing transmission of data to mobile systems.
It also includes a version of RealOne Player optimized for mobile devices. That version of the player software has been tweaked for use with Intel's StrongARM SA-1110, PXA250 and PXA210 applications processors, RealNetworks said.
The ability to download songs and see video highlights on a cell phone are some of the new services that wireless carriers are exploring to earn more money. They could either charge customers a fee for every song or video downloaded, or offer a subscription service, for example.
Though most carriers have either launched, or plan to launch, networks that can download files to handsets at about the same speed as PCs with a dial-up connection, they have so far been hesitant to offer these kinds of services.
Even with the newer networks, video clips don't translate well to a cell phone's tiny screen, and the slow Net connection speeds make downloading and listening to an MP3 a frustrating task.
Regardless, Donovan predicts that digital audio or video download services will arrive in the United States by the end of the year. Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS or AT&T Wireless will likely offer the service to customers, he said.
The RealSystem Mobile software is available to mobile carriers now.
2/18/02 Good Vibrations (2nd draft-substantial additions)
Recently, e.Digital made public for the first time a design win in the telematics market.
January 7, 2002- e.Digital Corporation and Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten announced today that the companies have collaborated for several months to develop and deliver state-of-the-art automotive OEM and aftermarket infotainment systems integrating the latest digital audio, voice recognition, data storage, video, and wireless Internet technologies for sale under the Eclipse brand name. This includes integration of onboard cellular phone, GPS, video, and audio into a single voice-controlled automotive system. Technology development will include navigation and control as well as wireless access and integration with home networks."
As many of you know, I have been looking into e.digital's possible involvement in the telematics market for almost two years. I confess and acknowledge that I was surprised by the announcement with Fujitsu Ten. Something you should keep in mind when reading the remainder of this. So is that it, did I miss the boat in my previous ruminations on this topic. I think not but only time will tell--but we are not too far off now.
So if anyone is interested, I have decided to put on my "longtooth" and update some prior ramblings on the topic-- may be even in time for the 2/19/02 edig CC. Recent communications from e.digital's management would suggest in fact that its telematics agenda is becoming one of its important markets.
January 16, 2002
Automotive Business
"We were pleased to announce last week an automotive product developed and designed through our collaboration with Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten. The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten automotive product (MP-3 Changer) introduced at CES represents the first automotive system incorporating e.Digital's MicroOS and VoiceNav(TM) technologies. In addition to the design shown at the Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten booth, e.Digital demonstrated an advanced prototype of the product utilizing a beta version of its MicroOS 3.0 which enables music files to be remotely transferred from a PC to the player via 802.11 wireless protocol.
The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten product is the first of several major opportunities for our technology to be included in next-generation automotive infotainment systems. Infotainment systems are part of the automotive telematics market, which is expected to be worth over $1.1 billion in 2002, and projected to grow 16-fold by 2006. (Telematics Research Group). There is significant interest among several automotive electronics manufacturers and suppliers in e.Digital's digital data management and wireless infotainment solutions. Automotive infotainment and telematics applications are expected to generate substantial licensing, NRE fees, and royalties for your Company. Each OEM agreement may also include revenue for manufacturing services, warranty services, marketing, customer service, order fulfillment, and technical support services."
February 11, 2002
Automotive Business
"The burgeoning automotive telematics market is a strategic target for our immediate and long-term business expansion. e.Digital technology, including our MicroOSTM file management system and our VoiceNavTM user-independent speech recognition interface, enables automotive OEMs and ODMs to incorporate additional features and successfully meet safety objectives in automotive telematics and infotainment solutions.
Automotive telematics is the wireless exchange or delivery of communication, information, and other content between the auto and/or occupants and external sources....Based on over two years of internal development, and growing interest in our VoiceNav and MicroOS technologies, we are making automotive telematics solutions a primary focus of our OEM and ODM technology development and marketing efforts.
Based on the work we have done and continue to do, we are expanding our business in this area and taking advantage of significant near-term and long-term revenue opportunities available to us. The revenue opportunities from the automotive telematics applications of our products and technologies is potentially far greater than even those from portable consumer devices, both in royalties and margins."
As e.digital has acknowledged, this is not an area of business that it just dreamed up and started a few months back with Fujitsu. I would suggest e.digital's beginnings in this area were an outgrowth of the VoiceTimes' alliance and its previous dealings with Intel and IBM which no doubt led to it being included as an inaugural member of VoiceTimes.
VoiceTimes alliance
April 13, 1999 – e.Digital Corporation along with IBM, Intel and other leaders in speech recognition and mobile technologies today announced at the DemoMobile 99 conference the formation of the Voice Technology Initiative for Mobile Enterprise Solutions (VoiceTIMES)....With the explosive growth of mobile devices and the increasing demand for network access, the VoiceTIMES initiative was formed to define specifications for how voice commands and information are transmitted and received by existing and future mobile devices.
''We believe VoiceTIMES will allow e.Digital to expand development of speech-based mobile information gathering devices and leverage our product designs in to many additional industry solutions.'' (Falk} ''In today's world of pervasive computing, users want simple, fast and hassle free mobile computing devices to connect and communicate.'' said W.S. ''Ozzie'' Osborne, general manager of IBM Speech Systems. ''Through joint collaboration, the VoiceTIMES alliance aims to eliminate complexities for the consumer and solutions integrator, while providing future generations of standard compliant speech-enabled mobile products. VoiceTIMES will allow mobile users to compute — anytime, anywhere.
Q: How does this fit into the mobile industries overall strategy?
A: Just like with VXML, Java and the Internet, VoiceTIMES is driving open standards technology to one day eliminate the complexity of doing business. Through pervasive computing, VoiceTIMES hopes to create an infrastructure to provide open standards for the mobile industry, including telematics.
What VoiceTimes and the concept of pervasive computing should teach you is that you CANNOT look at the concept of telematics in an isolated vacuum apart from the rest of mobile communications. For example, shortly before Voicetimes, in January 1999 IBM performed a focus group market survey regarding 3 voice driven mobile products which results were posted on IBM's Voicetimes website:
Selected Survey Results
Three 'Concepts' were discussed:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,(think telematics)
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
Immediate access to information was PVA/PDA enthusiasts' leading desire for voice-activated usage, while 'being able to contact others' was the leading desire for smartphone users. Most participants agreed that 'hands-free'/'eyes-free' operation was the feature that they found most important. The results of the survey concluded that adding voice to PDAs and Smartphones is the next 'natural' step for enhancing smart handheld devices, and it supports the VoiceTIMES vision to expand Voice Technology. Clearly the "hands-free/eyes-free" killer application is best designed for the telematics market.
If you will recall, a few months later Intel announces its own PVA- Personal Vehicle Assistant. In fact, over 1 1/2 years ago wtmgyes wrote IBM about VoiceTimes and received the following response:
"The products we announced can and will use VoiceTIMES
specification verified devices. VoiceTIMES is the initiative to create open specifications for mobile devices. The specifications that VoiceTIMES is currently working on and will be working on in the future will be used to access the mobile Internet through our software.
Perfect examples are our voice-enabled automotive solution and the PVA. Both solutions use the VoiceTIMES specification for their internet access devices."
Tom Houy
Manager, Client Systems Marketing
IBM Speech Systems
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=364361&x=11&y=7
In connection with writing this post, I came across an article from a German magazine posted on Siemens website which contains the following which I believes exemplifies the concept that telematics will be looked at as one part of mobile communications. (Siemens is an important member of Bluetooth's Special Interest Group (SIG), a collection of wireless telecommunications and computing leaders. This group was founded in 1998 by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba to create a global specification for short-range, wireless connectivity. Here's the excerpt:
"What, then, might a normal working day look like once the promise of third-generation mobile communications has been fulfilled? Over breakfast, you might take in the latest news from the Internet on your e-book. Meanwhile, your personal digital assistant (PDA)—a UMTS terminal—coordinates the family rota for the coffee machine. With time running short, you send back unread articles to the PDA, which saves them for later. You then leave the house, having instructed the terminal to lock the door.
Once in the garage, the PDA automatically transmits your id, unlocks the vehicle and immediately consults your diary in order to work out the best route. Out on the road, it's time for a little music. So you whistle a melody into your PDA, which immediately begins an Internet search for an appropriate piece of music. At the same time, it puts through an important call from a colleague at work.
Having arrived at the office, the terminal checks for any extra appointments with the computer at your desk. It turns out you have a new customer. Naturally, electronic business cards are automatically exchanged during the first conversation. Meanwhile, a video conference organized by your PDA with engineers in France helps you to clear up a technical problem.
In this way, the working day proceeds smoothly, periodically interrupted by WAP sport and market news. By the time you're ready to leave the office, the terminal has already brought your diary up to date and booked a table at your favorite restaurant. As you head for the allotted table, a discrete tone in your breast pocket announces that the PDA has received the menu. Should you decide to activate your terminal, your favorite dish will appear at the top of the list of those on offer.
Later, as you approach your car to drive home, the vehicle door opens automatically, your favorite radio station comes on and the seat adjusts to your ideal position. Any e-mails received are read out, and the answering machine back home is checked for messages. All this could one day be possible thanks to the Voicetimes project, which enables the information terminal to handle speech in three ways: A speaker-recognition function protects the equipment against unauthorized use, just like a pin code. Voice synthesis allows information to be conveyed in the form of speech—for example, a traffic warning to drivers. Finally, speech recognition makes the keyboard redundant.
When you arrive back home, the door opens and the latest news from your favorite electronic newspaper appears on a screen. While you are reading, the coffee machine goes into action and notes important messages for the rest of the family via a Bluetooth interface.
By way of relaxation, the terminal then shows you the latest edition of new world, which contains an article describing how the fourth generation of communications technology is going to revolutionize your life.
Depending on your viewpoint, you will be left feeling elated or depressed. Ultimately, there are many missing links in the scenario sketched above—not least a description of the software that will manage the availability of your UMTS terminal while simultaneously guarding your private sphere. Moreover, the role of the automobile and the office may change radically if numerous members of the Car2Net generation decide they want to telework from home. But one thing is certain: the scenario is generally correct. Are you starting to feel your age? If so, it may well be a sign that "the times they are a-changin'.""
Again what is important to realize is that telematics is not being developed in a vacuum. The integration of smartphones, PDAs, and platforms such as Java, Bluetooth, and 802.11 are being incorporated into developing a cost conscious telematics experience. (See for example the Johnson Controls Chrysler approach discussed below.)
e.Digital's pre-VoiceTimes involvement and beyond
Prior to the formation of VoiceTimes, in August 1998, e.digital announced that it had signed an agreement to design and develop a digital voice recorder for Intel Corporation. 6/28/99 Falk newsletter: Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
One of the ways interactive automotive companies say new content will get into the car will be via a removable device that syncs up with the driver's home PC. Consumers will have their own personalized portal, where they can select the types of content they want to bring into the car and set them up for download. "We're not talking about real-time browsing in the car or even heavy computing," says Brian Gratch, Motorola's marketing director for its Telematic Communication Group.
In July, 1999, a S.D. newspaper article gives some inkling about the edig/intel project:
e.Digital
POWAY -- "Someday soon, people may be able to harvest news articles, e-mail and other bits of text off the Internet and listen as this information is read aloud from portable devices.
The first steps toward that ambitious goal are happening here, inside the offices of e.Digital Corp. Giant chipmaker Intel is paying the Lilliputian Poway company for research and development costs aimed at making new speech-to-text, text-to-speech gizmos. The project, which began last year but stalled when the companies dumped a third-party technology partner in favor of another unnamed firm, remains hush-hush. The companies won't even reveal drawings of what the device looks like.
Still, Skip Matthews, a senior project development manager for Intel's Memory Components Division, coyly hinted at the project's capabilities. "What if you had a device that could read The Wall Street Journal to you while you're in your car?" he said, declining to elaborate."
Clearly this article demonstrates that at least part of the e.Digital/intel project is focused on telematics. A month later, Skip Matthews "retires" and joins e.Digital's BOD.
8/1/99 Dr. Matthews joins e.Digital's Board upon retirement from a distinguished 25-year career with Intel Corporation with his last position being Senior Project Development Manager. "I was attracted to e.Digital because they were the first to adopt flash memory in an audio recorder. There is great potential for further application of e.Digital's technology in Internet music players and even more advanced audio applications such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems."
8/30/99 Falk newsletter update: We are continuing to make significant progress on the Intel voice recorder prototypes with the project taking some interesting new turns into areas of new technology development that we expect will be very beneficial to e.Digital. We remain on track with IBM, Intel, Philips and our other VoiceTIMES Alliance partners in setting new protocols for voice recording in portable digital devices. [NB: Note the use of plural "prototypes". Clearly there is more than one type of device being developed as made clear in Falk's 9/30/99 update when he refers to "new OEM relationships". Also note the reference to Philips who at the time of the formation of VoiceTimes alliance had licensed IBM's TTS technology for use in future products.]
To this date we have not heard any news regarding e.Digital's 1998 project with Intel or the prototypes created therefrom. Is the project dead and buried? Should we just forget about it and move on? What do we know? It is my SPECULATION that the Intel project involved at least two different projects: the initial project involving VR for a PDA/recorder and the new turn being VR integration into a telematics system. (In reality, it is one theme with different corollaries. Time and again, Intel executives have indicated these solutions derive from the same building blocks. See 11/00 Smith comments below for example.)What little facts that we do know is that e.digital had completed its work on the project sometime in 2000, a number of other companies were involved, and edig thought there would be a public announcement about it by the end of 2000. In fact no announcement came. Was this just more "RP/FF carrot BS" which many of you believe is the only thing they have perfected? I don't think so for the following reasons.
I have previously contended that one of the 1998 intel/edig projects was part of the following:
Cadillacs to Get Voice-Activated Calling by Year's End
General Motors to embed cellular services in one million 2001 vehicles
By Lee Copeland and Lee Copeland
(Apr. 17, 2000) General Motors Corp. last week accelerated its drive to provide embedded cellular and Web-based services in its vehicles. The Detroit-based automaker said it will offer a Communiport Infotainment PC system developed by Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. in Troy, Mich., in new Cadillacs by the end of this year.
GM officials touted the cellular system as being safer to use while driving than a phone handset. Using a dashboard-based, voice-activated computer, drivers will be able to listen to e-mail messages and make cellular calls. The system is integrated with the vehicle's radio and also features a CD-ROM drive, a navigation system and a voice memo recorder. Drivers would have to forward messages from their existing messaging system to a GM-based account in order to access them from the road.
http://www.computerworld.com/cwi/Printer_Friendly_Version/0,1212,NAV47_STO44447-,00.html
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18295
However, in December 2000, GM decided to delay the implementation of the Infotainment PC option until 2001. To the best of my knowledge, it continues to be on indefinite hold.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18321
What's happened since then? We again need to back up a little bit and review the Intel and IBM involvement in pervasive computing and telematics in general and then specifically.
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67769
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67776
IBM and Telematics
In 2000, IBM was called upon to help the Automotive Multimedia Interface Collaboration, a consortium of 13 automobile manufacturers, select which standards the group needed to define. "We had to walk them through what they should be thinking about, and what technologies they should be looking at," says Raj Desai, the director of IBM's automotive development group. Most notably, auto-makers need to develop an open network standard that lets all of a Net-ready car's more than 60 microprocessors and disparate networks communicate with each other. And because most of the content will reside offline and outside of the car, standards have to begin at the application level, says IBM's Desai.
In addition to these standards, in the end we may see widespread adoption of Java, too. This September, UBS Warburg LLC, a global financial services organization, released a study that endorsed Belgian telematics developer SmartMove's Open Telematics Framework system, which is Java-based. That's an interesting move, considering most of the current telematics systems are based on Windows CE. Some application developers are already taking the Java plunge. Motorola's iRadio, for example, is being developed using current Internet technologies, including Java that runs on Linux.
"IBM is involved in almost every aspect of telematics, working directly with several major automobile manufacturers and with automotive suppliers including Motorola and ATX. IBM’s products and services include embedded computers, embedded Java, speech and voice recognition products like Via Voice, middleware and infrastructure products including WebSphere Everyplace Suite and WebSphere Everyplace Portal, tools and development environments for content and application providers, and hosted portals and services. Among the many telematics activities currently being pursued by automakers and others, IBM is participating in:
· DaimlerChrysler Services/Mobility Management, which provides topical tips for travelers about movies, shows, the arts and dining in the areas they visit, along with navigation aids and parking data.
· ATX’s interactive voice recognition/speech response technology, which uses IBM’s Direct Talk voice processing platform and ViaVoice speech recognition technology.
· PSA Peugeot Citroen’s prototype networked car based on Xsara Picasso, Citroen’s intelligent automotive application.
· Projects with DaimlerChrysler, Motorola, Intel and PSA Peugeot Citroen, all of which are using IBM’s VisualAge Micro Edition embedded Java 2 technology.
· Myautogarage.com from ADP, a Web-based service linking dealers with motorists for easier and faster maintenance and management of their vehicles, which is powered by IBM.
· Motorola’s iRadio offering, which uses a variety of IBM products and services to deliver e-mail and custom entertainment options to automobiles through Motorola cell phone technology."
[This is taken from a May 2001 article written by Raj Desai Director, IBM Worldwide Telematics Solutions. I highly recommend reading the full article: http://www.ebizchronicle.com/columns01/may/telematics.htm.
DELPHI
In 1998, a PR announced that IBM was working with Delphi and SunMicrosytems to develop a "network vehicle" with IBM providing java-based and VR technology. IBM has continued to work with Delphi to develop among other telematics products, the Communiport Infotainment PC. Recently, on February 13, 2002 IBM and Delphi confirmed their ongoing relationship in telematics:
IBM Receives Delphi Business For Next-Gen Multi-Media Car Products
Combines IT, Auto Expertise For Full-Fledged Digital Dashboards
ARMONK, NY, and TROY, MI--(INTERNET WIRE)--Feb 13, 2002 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM - news) announced today that Delphi Automotive Systems has chosen IBM's J9(TM) virtual machine environment, as a foundation technology for the development of automobile multimedia products. These products can enable motor vehicles to communicate in real-time with drivers, dealers, manufacturers and others in the industry's value chain.
Delphi will use the IBM J9 virtual machine environment in the design of new mobile multimedia products that include embedded, real-time control systems using full-motion video, speech and voice processing, Internet and Java(TM) technologies to enhance communications and entertainment applications for original equipment vehicles. Products expected to result from the collaboration range from dashboard control features to information, entertainment, navigation and messaging.....
IBM's embedded virtual machine technology has been developed, deployed and refined for more than a dozen years. In August 2001, IBM was the first to develop and distribute the J9 J2ME "Java Powered" environment simultaneously across multiple platforms. The J9 virtual machine environment has proved in independent testing to provide a high-performance, compact environment for running embedded Java applications across a broad range of processors. Complementing the J9 virtual machine, IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition allows developers to quickly and easily create and deploy e-business applications to automotive Telematics devices, hand-held computers, PDA's and cellular telephones. More information is available at www.ibm.com/embedded.
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM is among the first companies to offer leading-edge technology and tools to its customers and enable them to deliver advanced Telematics Solutions. Through years of expertise and research in the Automotive industry, IBM and IBM Business Partners have built a flexible and reliable portfolio of software (such as speech recognition and wireless technologies), hardware, IT services, development platforms and innovative tools. Our end-to-end architecture fully integrates open standards. It links both portable and embedded hardware devices to the Internet via wireless networks and leverages Java applications to exchange data to and from the vehicles with Wireless Telematics Service Providers. Addressing issues such as safety, privacy, convenience and connectivity, our in-vehicle information systems and solutions enable our customers to deliver hands-free and eyes-free technology as part of developing invaluable and long-term relationships with their customers. As the Telematics revolution is now gaining momentum in other industries such as Insurance, Petroleum and Commercial market, our vision will prepare our customers for the next generation of e-business infrastructure for many years to come. Please visit our Telematics Solutions site at www.ibm.com/industries/automotive for further details and references.
On October 26, 2001, IBM announced a broad range of new customers, partners and products in its comprehensive strategy to provide voice recognition software for mobile e-business.
New customers and partners span three continents and key targets of IBM's voice business: the automobile industry for telematics, the growing market segment for products and services that deliver wireless voice and data information to vehicles; manufacturers of personal digital assistants and other mobile devices; telephone call centers; and e-businesses of all sizes.
They include major automotive supplier Johnson Controls, which has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice as the speech software for its telematics offerings - including an innovative, voice-enabled communications system that will be deployed by the Chrysler Group.
IBM's voice recognition software relies on open, non-proprietary standards such as VoiceXML and Java, which make it easy to create software for people to access information by voice over the phone and helps businesses integrate disparate systems.
IBM's new customers and partners in telematics:
Plymouth, Mich.-based automotive supplier Johnson Controls has selected IBM as its speech software provider for all of its upcoming telematics offerings to the auto industry. Its first implementation is a voice-enabled mobile communications system for the Chrysler Group. An industry first, the system requires only the push of a button to make a call - all other functions are engaged via voice commnds. It consists of a receiver module behind the dashboard, an embedded microphone in the rear-view mirror, and the driver's own mobile phone. The phone will synchronize with the receiver module to create a wireless connection via Bluetooth technology with the car's audio system. When a call is placed, audio is suspended, and the call comes through the speakers. IBM's software will allow drivers to use spoken commands (in English, French or Spanish) to place calls or access the system's audio address book, customizable by the owner. The system will be available in an aftermarket version in spring 2002 and factory installed in 2003.
Intel is working with IBM's Embedded ViaVoice to support its strategy to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car platform based on Intel® StrongARM and upcoming Intel® XScale processors. Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, the Intel XScale microarchitecture is an ideal microprocessor solution for telematics.
Hitachi, a worldwide provider of car infotainment systems, is supporting IBM's Embedded Via Voice recognition on Hitachi SH-4-based platforms (HARP) for automotive applications. The hardware platforms are designed to run with all major operating systems.
QNX, a provider of operating systems for automobile electronics, has partnered with IBM for voice recognition. The QNX operating system will support the Embedded ViaVoice product for telematics. Embedded ViaVoice runs on both an operating system and a hardware platform to ensure the two interoperate. Voice-enabled telematics applications developed on the QNX operating system are designed to run on major automotive telematics platforms such as Intel, Hitachi and Motorola.
In the handheld computer market:
Legend Computers, the largest computer company in China, has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite in simpilfied Chinese to voice-enable its new handheld computers to be available in Q1 2002. The IBM software will give users a natural alternative to the stylus or keyboard in operating the devices, and the added convenience of being able to listen to rather than read information and messages.
On Oct. 4, Compaq announced it is using IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite to voice-enable its new iPAQ H3800 Pocket PC Series, one of the world's first commercially available handheld computers to let users access and receive information with human speech.
MOTOROLA
MOTOROLA Telematics Background
Seventy years ago, Motorola broke new ground by taking the home radio into the car. Since then, the driving experience has never been the same. Today, Motorola is reinventing that in-car experience all over again. Telematics uses existing technologies at which Motorola is expert -- GPS location, wireless voice and data, and on-board computing -- and integrates them in whole new ways.
The Motorola website has an extensive background on telematics and Motorola's current and future roles in this nascent market. http://www.motorola.com/ies/telematics/html/indextd.html
The Lincoln RESCU system was only the beginning. Since RESCU was launched in 1996 -- the result of its efforts with Ford Motor Company -- Motorola has introduced Telematics to many other automakers around the world. With the 2000 model year, Motorola Telematics will be available in hundreds of thousands of cars in the United States and Europe.
Motorola Telematics products are available in a variety of automotive makes and models, ranging from the 2000 Jaguar S-TYPE to over 40 different General Motors vehicles as part of the OnStar System. Motorola's Telematics partners include: BMW, Cadillac, Ford/Lincoln, General Motors,
General Motors Europe/Opel and Vauxhall
Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mercedes-Benz/Germany Nissan/Infiniti, Renault, Visteon
Telematics is an emerging market of automotive communications technology that combines wireless voice and data to provide location-specific security, information, productivity, and in-vehicle entertainment services to drivers and their passengers. Today, Telematics systems offer drivers emergency and roadside assistance, air bag deployment notification, navigation, remote door unlock, vehicle security notification and stolen vehicle tracking services. Just as today’s Telematics safety and security features are a direct result of initial consumer demand, future Telematics services will also be a direct result of what drivers want in their cars. These systems may provide customized services such as travel information (traffic updates, parking availability, airline status), messaging (voice mail and email retrieval), information (sports, weather, stock market updates and Internet access) and entertainment (audio games, books, magazines and newspapers). These are only a few of the applications which will evolve with Telematics to keep drivers and their passengers in touch.
In North America, some of these future telematics services are now beginning in GM's Onstar programns known as Virtual Advisor and Personal Calling. Motorola has been the primary integrator or GM's telematics program. Motorola will work with OnStar and Saturn Electronics & Engineering to create in-car Net wireless devices for General Motors vehicles. The company says that its Integrated Electronic Systems Sector will develop the devices, which are expected to be available in virtually every GM car and truck starting with the 2001 model year.
The devices are considered telematics, which combine wireless voice and data capabilities to provide location-specific security information, entertainment and in-car productivity tools. OnStar is a subsidiary of GM that, so far, has created in-car communications capabilities primarily for luxury vehicles. Saturn will manufacture components for the systems. Motorola claims the initiative has a potential value to the company of $1 billion.
IBM and Motorola Telematics Alliance
On 9/14/99, Motorola announced a relationship with QNX Software Systems Ltd., IBM, and Embedded Planet (formerly RPCG) to develop MobileGT Architecture, initially targeted for automotive driver information systems. MobileGT is an open, Java-centric architecture that can allow automobile manufacturers to easily and cost-effectively develop advanced driver information systems to fit their specific platforms. MobileGT's flexible, modular computing platform is scaleable across a wide range of products, allowing automobile manufacturers to leverage a common development approach while providing product differentiation through tailored and system integration. MobileGT can address a wide array of in-vehicle applications -- dynamic navigation, wireless connectivity and Internet access, natural language speech processing, car audio, virtual dashboards, multimedia and more.
MobileGT also incorporates IBM's VisualAge for Embedded Systems, Java(TM) Technology Edition virtual machine and development tools optimized for use with QNX Neutrino. This proven execution environment supports configuration-based deployment of applications, giving the developers the ability to build ultra-compact runtime components.
In follow-up, on January 14, 2000, IBM and Motorola said they will join to develop technology to help automakers add a variety of wireless and Web-based services automobiles.The companies will focus on telematics which includes communications and navigation capabilities such as real-time traffic routing. It also can include Internet capabilities such as e-mail.
The companies note that because cars move, telematics requires a network connection that is both precise and durable. IBM says it will contribute its expertise in computer hardware, software and network management. Beyond those generalities, the companies offered few details, other than to say they already were approaching automotive manufacturers about potential products.
IBM/Mot formed a platform called MobileGT, an easily upgradable computer that can accept peripherals like cell phones, PDAs and other gear that might be used in cars. http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20000211S0057 With the coming of AMIC [the Automotive Multimedia Interface Consortium], the industry said it wanted Java, and that became a central theme for our group."
Motorola's iRadio
iRadio represents the next stage of the telematics market. Most of the telematics action is currently taking place at the factory level with such systems as GM's OnStar, Visteon's Vehicle Emergency Messaging System (VEMS), and Lincoln's RESCU system—all of which use Motorola telematics technology to link the vehicle to a monitoring center via a cellular phone. At the basic level, the systems provide roadside assistance and emergency response. More sophisticated systems use global positioning system (GPS) turn-by-turn route guidance, airbag deployment certification, concierge services and remote theft alarm and door unlock capabilities via 24-hour monitoring services
At CES in January 2000, Motorola announced its Internet radio prototype called iRadio, an in-vehicle information and entertainment via wireless Web access. A smart technology to be offered by automakers, Motorola's iRadio will enable drivers to download and listen to digital music on demand; listen to real time traffic reports; download audio books; access voicemail; receive news and weather reports; get updated stock portfolio information and access email. Entertainment also will factor into iRadio. iRadios will sport DVD drives and smart card slots, and iRadio products will tap the Internet for pay-per-view movies, video games, music and e-commerce transactions. These off-board mobile multimedia features will be delivered wirelessly via Web access, satellite, digital cellular, and FM sideband technologies. The iRadio system interface uses advanced voice recognition and text-to-speech technologies to allow drivers to activate the features while keeping their eyes on the road. In addition, the iRadio system can use Bluetooth technology to synchronize with a multitude of personal electronic devices, including cellular phones, PDAs, and pagers.
The framework for iRadio is built upon the safety, security, navigation and concierge services already being delivered to drivers through Motorola telematics capabilities, which combines wireless voice and data technologies, global positioning systems (GPS) and automotive-grade software.
Complete with voice recognition and text-to-speech technologies, iRadio is a wireless Web client device which allows access to content originating from multiple sources, whether via the Web, cellular communications, broadcast and satellite transmissions, or traditional AM/FM bands, among others, including Command Audio and XM Radio. Command Audio's technology lets users who subscribe to its service preselect material they want to listen to and transmits it to cars via FM radio waves.
A fully scalable system, iRadio will provide drivers with a range of service levels, from basic to premium packages, much like ordering Cable TV. In addition, a personalized Web page will enable iRadio to be configured anywhere drivers and passengers have an Internet connection - at home, in the office or the car. For drivers with mobile devices including pagers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), data such as address books, calendar functions, and favorite Web bookmarks can be synchronized on demand between iRadio and the device.
"There is also an e-commerce angle that will let people buy things from their car," said Mike Bordelon, vice president of Motorola's telematics computing group. "But to offer that and other features across that space we need one end-to-end solution, and that's where IBM comes in." IBM will provide many of the back-end computing systems and services that will enable iRadio and other concept devices to work. "There are a lot of things that happen in the device that are very much tied to the server," said Jon Prial, director of marketing for IBM's pervasive computing division. "We focus on all that from synchronization, database, messaging and voice technology--all technologies from IBM for enabling the devices."
Motorola is parlaying its roles as a longtime electronics supplier to automakers and that of the world's No. 2 cell-phone manufacturer into dominance in the burgeoning industry of telematics - wireless telecommunications in cars and trucks. Demand for Web-connected cars is projected to help triple the company's telematics sales to about $1 billion in the next three years. And iRadio, which is expected to be installed in luxury cars of the major carmakers by the end of 2001, is only the forerunner of bigger projects still on the drawing board.
"Telematics will be the next air bag in the auto industry." Automakers estimate that 'Net-enabled cars will be standard by 2005. Motorola plans to offer iRadio through car OEMs and aftermarket suppliers, Sokola says. "We imagine that we'll make the insides of many of these products," he says, referring to the Digital DNA components that make these products work, but the company also plans to offer turnkey solutions under its own brand. "Motorola plans to provide both complete solutions and the basic building blocks for iRadio products," he says.
In March, 2000, IBM and Motorola announced plans to join forces to help meet the growing demand for e-businesses worldwide to link data and applications to wireless devices. The companies announced their intent to jointly develop an open, highly scalable offering that will form the basis of a "voice and data engine" which will offer businesses an easy way to develop and access wireless applications and services. For example, carriers could use this offering to allow businesses to provide mobile workers real-time access to email, stock quotes, news, and corporate resources via wireless devices. By combining Motorola's device-aware front-end technology with IBM's middleware technology, this framework will provide optimal wireless data services to businesses around the world.
Mark Bregman, general manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing Division said "Working together with Motorola we will get to market faster with a product that operators need to give their business subscribers what they crave - access to information and services, virtually anytime, anywhere." This relationship builds on the existing collaboration between IBM and Motorola to enable the delivery of innovative new telematics products. In January, the companies announced that they would work together to provide the end-to-end resources to help car manufacturers offer exciting new wireless services to their customers. The agreement builds on the strong position of Motorola's Integrated Electronic Systems Sector (IESS) group with IBM's systems and services expertise.
On January 9, 2001, Motorola announced that it will license Java technology and voice recognition software from IBM, for use in the Motorola Telematics iRadio™ system. The Motorola iRadio™ system is a complete solution that offers a packaged multimedia functionality, which can be accessed at home, in the car and on the individual mobile devices. The Java-based platform allows the product to access personalised, location-based services, real time traffic information, dynamic off-board navigation, music-on- demand, eCommerce options and email. With speech recognition and additional features, Motorola's iRadio system delivers information, communications and entertainment to the car without diverting the driver's attention. Motorola's iRadio offers the latest user interfaces and applications and IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition Java technology. A key feature of IBM's Java technology is that it enables new applications and services to be added and enhanced remotely without inconveniencing consumers.
Motorola is also using IBM Embedded ViaVoice Multiplatform Edition for voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities.
IBM's ViaVoice enables drivers to use voice commands, as an alternative input to faceplate controls, for accessing information such as weather, news and sports, select a favorite radio station or other iRadio system applications.
On June 11, 2001, the mobileGT Alliance, including eNGENUITY Technologies, IBM, Motorola and QNX Demonstrate A Complete International Development Environment for Driver Information Systems and Announces Hyundai Autonet as First Customer in Asia for mobileGT Architecture. mobileGT-based DIS is the answer to consumer demand for smarter, safer, harder working and more fun cars that can provide help in accidents and navigation, and help keep them in touch with home and office. It can provide a gateway to and from the car, e-calls, Internet and email, on-demand multi-genre digital music broadcast, games and video, and is the basis for the next generation of pervasive consumer services. http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=244435
Motorola is staking its Telematics future on collaboration and partnership, not proprietary solutions.
http://www.telematicsupdate.com/homepage2.asp?news=12844
CHRYSLER/JOHNSON CONTROLS
On October 25, 2001, has signed up Intel, IBM, AT&T Wireless, Johnson Controls and Gentex to provide key elements in its telematics drive called U-Connect. DaimlerChrysler chose AT&T as its wireless communications provider; Johnson for Bluetooth wireless-networking technology; Gentex for its microphone and driver communications interface; and IBM for its speech software. Intel's upcoming XScale processors and StrataFlash memory will provide the engine behind all the components allowing them to work together.
Intel has signed a multiyear agreement with the automaker, according to sources, as it brings a new focus to chipmaking, its core business. Intel has been investing in telematics and other businesses that would increase the shipments of its device processors and flash memory. The first of DaimlerChrysler's new telematics offerings will be a cell-phone system that will let a driver use hands-free calling and voice commands. The system will be available as an aftermarket product in the spring of 2002 and will be factory-installed in cars in early 2003.
IBM has closed a deal with Johnson Controls, an auto industry OEM, to provide voice technology for the auto industry OEM's telematics products. First up is the integration of the embedded version of its ViaVoice recognizer with a Johnson Controls Bluetooth-enabled handset for Chrysler's in-car communications network.
Withrow, Director of Telematics, DaimlerChrysler, outlined DaimlerChrysler's "U-Connect" telematics entry product at a media and analyst's briefing held jointly with Johnson Controls at the North American International Auto Show in early January 2002. "Withrow talked about the hardware providers, but I think that probably masks the value that is inherent from second and third tier suppliers in that ultimate product that’s in the vehicle, because clearly a big portion of what we value in our U-Connect product has to do with the voice recognition and Bluetooth, which has both hardware and software sides to it. Though they're not very visible, both IBM and Intel are heavily involved and could stand to gain from this."
U-Connect's system uses very easy voice recognition software, a system that doesn't have to be 'trained' for hours to recognize one key customer's voice. How did DaimlerChrysler set about choosing this voice recognition system?
"Everything we’ve done about putting together U-Connect has been about trying to meet some simple value principles (for telematics): It needs to be simple, needs to be flexible, portability, highly flexible, enhance safe operation of the vehicle. When you begin to talk about simplicity with the operation of the product and the customers interaction with it, you clearly want to be going to a voice recognition system which has very high recognition rates, as well as (being) very, very easy to use. So you need speaker-independent voice recognition, not the trainable variety. And it has to be something customers can learn and operate swiftly, without complexity.
Interestingly, last August, Tom Houy, IBM's Manager of Client Voice Systems, gave the following talk:
Bluetooth and Speech Recognition A Natural Marriage?
The convergence of computing and communications is upon us.
Both voice recognition and Bluetooth are expected to be key enablers of this convergence by solving a major ease of use obstacle for mobile end-users. IBM Voice Systems offer "distributed voice" and is currently the only company that can distribute voice processing throughout an end-to-end mobile solution. Mobile devices range from a simple cellular telephone, to a handheld digital computing device, to full-fledged server computers. The software runs the gamut from real-time operating systems, speech browsers and Java, to server operating systems such as Linux. All of this enables applications to be scaleable across many device types and software platforms. Bluetooth technology makes voice-enabled mobile applications easier to use and will accelerate the use of voice recognition in mobile devices.
bluetooth and telematics
http://www.arcgroup.com/ebrief/2000/bluetooth/ebrief_contents_nolinks.htm.
Johnson Controls Infotainment:
Today’s conventional cockpit systems are only a starting point for completely revisioning this critical area with new and superior capabilities.
With our infotainment systems, we are going beyond the assembly of components to provide complete system integration that will significantly improve the driving experience and the occupants’ access to critical or useful information. Our infotainment systems are an industry-leading combination of audio, multimedia and vehicle data aimed at entertaining and providing vehicle occupants with key information. At Johnson Controls, we are working to become the recognized leader in providing innovative, end-user-driven information and entertainment systems that are safely and seamlessly integrated into automotive interiors.
Johnson Controls' infotainment systems deliver radio, satellite radio, CD/DVD/Removable Memory, MP3, HVAC, trip information, vehicle information, Navigation, RearVision™, and access to news, weather, financial services information, and the Internet.
Johnson Controls' TravelNote® with Memory Stick, BlueConnect
You can extend the convenience of TravelNote all the way to your PC. With the extended memory capability of TravelNote with Memory Stick, vehicle manufacturers can now offer speech-to-text features and the ability to playback recordings on conventional media or tape formats. The Sony Memory Stick is removable media that, with a simple adapter, can also be used with virtually any laptop computer. Features include: Removable Sony Memory Stick integrated with existing TravelNote Digital Voice Recorder;
Records up to 120 minutes of digitally-recorded voice data on a 16 MB Sony Memory Stick; May be operated in parallel with vehicle audio system
On Dec 14, 2001, Wavemakers, a developer of voice optimization software, announced an agreement with Johnson Controls Inc. that will have their WaveBeam(TM), ClearStream(TM) and EchoBlock(TM) software embedded in Johnson Controls' Bluetooth wireless-networking solutions. Together with Johnson Controls, Wavemakers joins Intel, IBM, AT&T Wireless, Gentex and QNX to provide innovative telematics solutions and services. Wavemakers is a member of the VoiceTimes alliance.
Several automotive manufacturers have already adopted the Gentex microphone technology and are currently working to integrate it into their vehicles. DaimlerChrysler was the first to announce that it will use a Gentex microphone as part of the Chrysler Group's recently announced hands-free, voice-recognition communications system, which the company plans to factory-install on various vehicles beginning in early 2003.
INTEL
At the same time IBM and Motorola announced its telematics relationship, so did IBM and Intel; Motorola said it would support the IBM/Intel work. On 1/25/00 Intel and IBM announced they are collaborating on in-car computing products that will enable automakers to provide wireless and Web-based services such as navigation, communication, and information. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the in-vehicle information systems. The software suite includes IBM's VisualAge MicroEdition, which incorporates embedded Java, as well as voice-recognition and text-to-speech functions. This software is used, along with interfaces to the vehicle, to communicate information to the driver and the outside world via the Internet. The companies said Motorola Inc. will also support the venture.
IBM and Intel officials said the partnership won't compete with carmakers or auto suppliers developing technology to create Web-enabled vehicles. In fact, they're potential customers. "Automakers and their suppliers are our partners," said Walt Davison, IBM's marketing executive for the automotive industry. "We're not competing with them; we're doing what we do best to help them do what they do best." IBM expects automakers to start offering vehicles with in-car computing systems next year. "The earliest consumers will see vehicles with in-car computing systems on the road will be in 18 months," Desai said.
http://detnews.com/2000/technology/0002/10/02100040.htm
IBM claims: Automotive pervasive computing is a reality -- where people use ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech software to interact with their automobiles the same way that they interact with their computers. IBM is working with automobile manufacturers so that drivers can run diagnostics from the road, search the Internet for a stock price and even make a service appointment with the manufacturer simply by speaking to their e-mail.
In July 2000, IBM announced that engineers and developers can now deploy connected Java language-based solutions across a wider array of embedded targets using IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition tools, class libraries and virtual machines. While VisualAge Micro Edition remains optimized for QNX's Neutrino real-time operating system, IBM has also added support for the iTRON industrial real time operating system and Microsoft Windows CE in response to customer requests.(Regarding iTron, see this 1/01 Redhat PR re DELPHI: "Red Hat eCos (Embedded Configurable Operating System) will be used in several Telematics products and has been selected for Delphi's recently announced "Mobile Productivity Center" (MPC), which is a platform for users of PDA's and Cellular phones. The Delphi MPC allows for hands-free operation of personal electronics like PDAs, along with seamless interface with popular cellular phones.... Delphi came to us with specific requirements that included a Linux application interface and uITRON API compatibility, and we were able to quickly leverage our extensive technical expertise to deliver a cost-effective, single solution that we believe will meet their needs." (IBM is a strong supporter of Linux.)http://www.redhat.com/about/presscenter/2001/press_delphi.html.
"Engineering decisions in the connected post-PC world must focus on customer choice. From the start, IBM designed and built VisualAge Micro Edition for portability and compatibility with published specifications," said Skip McGaughey, IBM director of embedded systems sales and marketing. "As our customers have approached us for new CPU, RTOS and development platform support, we have responded quickly, thanks to our investment in innovation and advanced technology."
Pervasive computing projects will require client and server components that run on multiple embedded targets.
Support for the ARM processor architectures is now included in VisualAge Micro Edition. This includes StrongARM SA-110 and SA-1110 processors and development reference boards from Intel.
from Intel's website:
The PVA Arrives
September 22, 2000
An emerging category of wireless Internet client devices is designed to make the in-vehicle wireless Internet experience feature-rich and easy to use. It is called the Personal Vehicle Assistant, or PVA. Similar to its hand-held PDA counterpart, the PVA is a Web-enabled wireless Internet consumer electronic device with the power to make a wide range of Internet services available anywhere, at any time.
For PVA users, these services can include two-way voice communications, e-mail, personalized news, navigation, traffic data and roadside assistance services, in addition to a wide spectrum of personal productivity and entertainment applications. For ergonomics, the PVA will enable hands-free operation with a basic user interface as simple as a car radio. Entertainment opportunities will enhance the drive-time experience, with MP3 digital audio for drivers and DVD movies for rear seat passengers.
http://www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/pva.htm
Two powerful trends are driving the rapid growth of the Internet. The first of these trends is the expansion of the wireless Internet, with its promise of "anytime, anywhere" connectivity to an ever-wider array of compelling applications for personal communications, information, productivity and entertainment. In his keynote address at the Fall 2000 Intel Developer Forum, Ron Smith, vice president and general manager of Intel's Wireless Communications and Computing Group, used the term "e-Everywhere" to describe this growing set of consumer expectations.
This trend also involves the convergence of voice, data and multimedia streams over the Internet. With the growing availability of wireless Internet services, consumers are becoming accustomed to voice, data and multimedia communications, e-mail, Web browsing, and mobile commerce (m-Commerce) applications that are always-on and always-connected. Wireless solutions from Intel are helping to make a wide range of services available through easy to use hand-held devices in a host of form factors, ranging from feature-rich cell phones to wireless Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and personal vehicle assistants.
Today there is another powerful trend: the growing availability of wireless Internet services in vehicles. It is called "telematics," the term for the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Just as the PDA makes the wireless Internet available in hand-held devices that can be used away from the desktop, Telematics extends the reach of the wireless Internet, making Internet services available during the periods we spend commuting and traveling by car.
The compelling user experiences provided by the wireless Internet have captured the attention of automobile manufacturers, equipment OEMs and developers, who are working to deliver a range of in-vehicle wireless Internet solutions.
The personal vehicle assistant makes drive-time more productive:
Navigation applications will take the guesswork out of reaching new destinations, while real-time traffic notification systems will help drivers arrive at their destination sooner.
Personalized information services will keep drivers and passengers up to the minute with the latest news, financial and business data.
A new set of "m-Commerce" applications may be used to reserve hotel rooms, purchase event tickets, make restaurant reservations, or even automatically pay highway and bridge tolls.
Emergency services will be available, such as roadside assistance and automatic collision notification systems. In addition, voice-activated communications will keep drivers in touch, all while the driver keeps his or her eyes on the road.
Entertainment opportunities will enhance the drive-time experience, with MP3 digital audio for drivers and DVD movies for rear seat passengers.
On 10/16/00, Intel announced plans to collaborate with IBM* to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car client platform for the expanding Telematics market segment. This collaboration will speed up the delivery of a complete set of Telematics client reference kits supporting the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture. These kits will enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce their time to market and create leading-edge wireless applications. IBM's popular VisualAge® Micro Edition Java™ application development tools and deployment technologies allow developers to quickly and easily leverage existing applications for e-Business.
Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Examples of in-car computing devices and services include navigation systems, emergency roadside assistance, and an array of entertainment applications and services.
Intel's support of IBM's embedded Java application development environment, Java class libraries and the J9 virtual machine for Intel's Xscale microarchitecture reference platforms provides Telematics developers and OEMs with a highly portable and reusable platform. "We are pleased to provide the burgeoning Telematics application development industry and OEMs with what are arguably the strongest wireless building blocks in the industry," said Pat Kerrigan, marketing manager at Intel's In-Car Computing Operation.
"Automotive computing is an important and growing market segment that both Intel and IBM serve with advanced technology and products," said Skip McGaughey, director of marketing and sales for IBM's OTI embedded system group. "With this announcement, IBM takes the important step to broaden VisualAge Micro Edition to embrace Intel's Xscale microarchitecture. www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/converge.htm.
From the 11/00 interview with Intel's Ron Smith, VP of wireless:
KAREN LAKE: Talk to us about the Internet being accessible from the car and where that's going. Is that in your department?
RON SMITH: Yes, that is actually in my department because by definition if you're going to have access from a car, it needs to be wireless and it is in a wide area network because you're not going to be driving your car inside a building. You're going to be driving your car out on the highway.
This is a real exciting area. There are a lot of new things that are going on here. They have already crafted a name for this called telematics. Don't ask me the origin of that name because I don't know.
KAREN LAKE: Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular, voice and Internet services in vehicles. I interrupted you. Please keep going.
RON SMITH: That's right, it's in vehicles. It started out with these emergency services like OnStar, which is actually a call back, a voice service. But now people want to move toward more information services to bring the same kind of capability, Internet access, the location-based services, and so on, to a vehicle. We are actively engaged in that. In fact, just recently we announced a relationship with IBM with their VisualAge capability to help bring some more of that software interface directly to these kinds of devices. We have a number of things going on with a number of manufacturers. Of course, none of them are public yet so I can't really talk about them.{GUESS INTEL IS EVEN SUBJECT TO NDAS!}
KAREN LAKE: Is there really any difference in the technology from a car vs. a PDA vs. a cellular phone? Are they all just adaptations of each other?
RON SMITH: They're all just adaptations of each other. You have the same kinds of requirements. You have to be able to maintain the data when the power goes off.
KAREN LAKE: And that's the Flash memory thing.
RON SMITH: Right. So, you need a Flash memory. You want a low power environment with relatively high performance like you'd get with our XScale microarchitecture. In a battery-operated device, it's pretty obviously needed because you can't drain the battery in a car. You don't want to be draining the car battery, but there are a lot more Amp hours, if you will, in a car battery. But if you're going to store it in a dashboard of a car, you have a lot of space constraints. You can't afford to have cooling hardware associated with that because it's going to be packed into a dashboard with all kinds of other things. So it amounts to the same kind of technology requirements.
CONCLUSION: It is undisputable that IBM and Intel are working together in the telematics arena using a Java-based platform and that Intel and IBM together are working with Motorola in support of Motorola's MobileGT architecture which is Java-centric.
On March 20, 2001, Intel Corporation and IBM announced that Intel has selected IBM as the premier provider of embedded software for its Intel® Personal Internet Client Architecture (Intel PCA) for wireless devices and other Internet appliances. The two companies will work together to deliver standards-based hardware and software solutions for next-generation, Internet-ready devices, targeting device manufacturers, application developers and carriers.
IBM will support Intel PCA by porting IBM's WebSphere Everyplace Suite Embedded Edition, which is cross-platform embedded middleware, and tools for devices to the Intel StrongARM* processor and future processors based on Intel XScale™ microarchitecture. Intel will feature and distribute IBM's device middleware with its Intel PCA software developer kit and hardware reference design guide that will be issued to the industry later this year. Embedded middleware manages communications, enables content and service creation and provides secure, reliable transactions between a device and a backend server.
"In the PC era, there was one predominant platform. Today, there are many different devices, and as everyday items from phones to cars to appliances are becoming more intelligent, open standards are crucial to ensure common interfaces, applications and services across them," said Michel Mayer, general manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing Group. "IBM will continue working with leading vendors, like Intel, so that our products support different platforms, including IBM's own PowerPC microprocessor."
Last October, Intel and IBM teamed to deliver an in-car client reference platform featuring IBM VisualAge Micro Edition Toolkit support for the Intel XScale microarchitecture. Today's announcement expands this effort to include personal digital assistants, web tablets, cell phones and other Internet-ready devices.
On April 11, 2001, Intel Corporation announced that leading in-car computing software platform vendors are delivering support for the Intel StrongARM processor and future processors based on the Intel XScale microarchitecture. Microsoft Corp., IBM, QNX Software Systems Ltd., Wind River Systems, Inc., Fonix Corporation and Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. are supporting the Intel StrongARM and Intel XScale microarchitectures to enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce "time-to-market" and create sophisticated in-car, voice-enabled wireless applications.
The core software platform recipe for devices in the in-car computing, or telematics, market segment consists of open, scaleable software platforms, extensible and comprehensive development tools and such key complementary technologies -as speech recognition. These combined elements are necessary to deliver adaptable, scaleable telematics devices that will enable and enhance applications and services for the automotive industry. "Our customers asked for each of these solutions by name," said Pat Kerrigan, director for Intel's In-Car Computing Operation. "We feel we have secured industry-wide support from key players to maximize the benefits of the Intel® Personal Internet Client Architecture and to provide our mutual customers with the best telematics development platforms available."
In-car computers based on Intel's chips could begin shipping as soon as the second half of 2002, the company said. The systems will use Intel's StrongARM--and later its XScale--processors, as well as speech-based user interfaces, Pat Kerrigan, director of Intel's in-car computing unit, said Wednesday. The unit is part of Intel's Wireless Communications and Computing Group. "We're working with the big guys in consumer electronics, as well as trying to understand the...needs of the automobile manufactures," Kerrigan said.
The company is also serving its own needs. As it moves into telematics, Intel sees the possibility of boosting chip sales.
"From our (processor) building-block perspective, it's all the same stuff" as in a cell phone or handheld, "just with a different bezel," Kerrigan said. Intel is working with consumer electronics companies such as Sony and Clarion, as well as with automakers to develop a range of in-car computers--from very basic ones for communication and navigation to full-on Internet-based entertainment and commerce systems.
Intel enlisted Microsoft for its Windows CE operating system; QNX for its QNX operating system and development tools; and Wind River Systems for VxWorks OS, tools and Java technology. The trio will, in turn, support Intel's Integrated Performance Primitives, a software library for speech, image and signal processing, as well as multimedia such as MP3 and MPEG files. Intel turned to IBM to provide, among other things, the middleware that will allow in-car computers to work with large communication networks. IBM, Fonix and Lernout & Hauspie will offer speech-recognition software that can allow drivers to use voice commands to operate their in-car computers.
Ron Smith Keynote
Intel Developer Forum, Spring 2001
April 17, 2001
Throughout this conference you'll be hearing about our plans, you'll be hearing about our four architectures for the Internet. The second architecture is the handheld client, something we call the Personal Intel Client Architecture or PCA. It's really for handheld computing and communication devices.... One that just recently joined the fold was IBM Corporation, and they're going to work together with Intel to enable PCA-based Internet-ready wireless devices and applications. And IBM is going to port its new WebSphere Everyplace suite, which is the embedded edition of it, it's part of their pervasive computing initiative, to the Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture. And this will provide a set of embedded client middleware for handheld and wireless solutions. And Intel will feature and distribute these with the middleware and tools to developers in our forthcoming PCA software development tool kit.
On September 27, 2001, Intel unveiled the Intel Telematics Design Center to provide Web-based development and technical support to developers working on in-car information systems. The Intel Telematics Operation comes under the auspices of the vendor's Personal Internet Client Architecture (PCA), which is aimed at the cellphone, PDA and mobile Internet device market. Intel has been helping large partners develop custom telematics products for the past five to seven years, but now the company will open its doors to other smaller developers.
An Intel spokesperson said the base architecture for PCA is easily applicable to the telematics market, with its heavy emphasis on low-power, high-performance chips, flash memory and wireless connectivity. He added that Bluetooth would be a key wireless architecture in telematics, for example in allowing cellphones to connect to in-car devices. Intel is already working with customers that make cars, and is shipping product, the spokesperson said. However, none of these customers is likely to reveal themselves before the end of this year he said.
Thilo Koslowski, a Gartner analyst, said Intel is making a smart move. "This is the right time to get in because (telematics) is an emerging market. All the automakers and network carriers are coming up with their solutions," Koslowski said.
Intel's Role
Intel has made a major commitment to the expansion of the wireless Internet, including technologies and industry investments that support innovative personal vehicle assistant product development. Intel's Wireless Communications and Computing Group is working to develop and enhance the wireless Internet experience for end users.
One way to enhance personal vehicle assistant capabilities is through higher integration and lower total system cost. To meet these goals, Intel has made technology investments in the areas of signal processing, baseband, control and application processing, as well as power and memory management. (Clearly, one area that intel and edig are playing a role is with Motorola and IBM's development of the MobileGT architecture and the integration of a reasonably cost effective telematics solution.)
Earlier, I linked IBM's Visual Age java being used in the Mobile GT telematics solution to Intel's new XScale architecture. Intel has specifically announced the XScale Microarchitecture is ideal for Personal Vehicle Assistants. http://www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/xscale.htm.
"Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture is the ideal microprocessor core design solution for personal vehicle assistants. This will enhance the automotive wireless Internet experience with high performance, scalability, and ultra-low power consumption.
High Performance The Intel XScale microarchitecture delivers industry leading mW/MIPS performance, based on Intel's 0.18 micron semiconductor process technology. It delivers the processing power required for high-performance Telematics applications including 3D navigation systems and multimedia."
In short, Intel and IBM have developed a telematics platform solution which clearly includes VR applications sounding very much like the intel-edig vtt project. Additionally, the voice-enabled PALM snap-on module described in detail on the IBM VoiceTimes webpage sounds like further prototypes related to the intel-edigital project.
Voice-enabled PDA
In early 2000, IBM began demonstrating a voice enabled PDA.
In February 2000 W.S. "Ozzie" Osborne, general manager of IBM Voice Systems demonstrated a prototype of its Personal Speech Assistant (PSA)/ Personal voice Assistant (PVA)at IBM's Santa Teresa Laboratory in San Jose. Some 2500 research scientists are exploring voice technologies throughout IBM. At this same press briefing, IBM previewed a speech console on the dashboard of a Chrysler that communicates with the driver about the condition of the car.
The PSA/PVA is a snap-on speech recognition base for Palm devices. A prototype contains a speaker, earphone jack, microphone, and -- most importantly -- a coprocessor that provides the necessary computing power to support voice technologies such as speech recognition and text-to-speech. Using IBM's Personal Speech Assistant application, you can navigate through a to-do list, execute several hundred commands, and access your address book. For example, you can say, "Find Bill Smith," and the contact record for Bill Smith opens on-screen.
Dictating a memo is as simple as holding down the record button and speaking into the unit's microphone. The prototype stores audio files in the base's 4MB of flash memory; IBM's compression scheme can contain 30 minutes of audio. The base can also be designed to accommodate removable media such as Compact Flash cards or even a 340MB IBM Microdrive. When you sync the handheld with your desktop PC, IBM's ViaVoice engine on your desktop automatically transcribes the audio clip and uploads the transcript to the handheld. Though not unwieldy, a prototype base adds slightly to the weight and length of an IBM WorkPad unit (running the Palm OS), as demonstrated.
Now, recall FF's 6/99 statement: "Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
In early March 2000. IBM again demoed the PSA at the Mobile Insights conference. Here is a short article reporting about this event:
IBM Puts Voice on Palm
IBM announces ViaVoice version for handhelds, non-PC devices (like cars).
Ephraim Schwartz, InfoWorld
Wednesday, March 08, 2000
As mobility moves the market for processing cycles off the desktop and into the palm, IBM Tuesday took a major step in offering a useable interface for devices with limited keyboards. The company announced an embedded version of its ViaVoice speech engine for handhelds and other nontraditional devices.
At the Mobile Insights 2000 conference here, Big Blue demonstrated its speech recognition and text-to-speech technology on a Palm III personal digital assistant. The Personal Speech Assistant prototype shown on stage was attached to the back of a Palm III, similar to other Palm III add-ons. Inside the PSA unit was the Embedded ViaVoice software, optimized for both the Palm OS and an NEC embedded processor.
In the demonstration, billed as only a technology demo, IBM official David Barnes made numerous voice-command and control calls to the unit, which responded by verifying appointments, taking short messages, and translating selected words into Spanish and Japanese.
Barnes reiterated that IBM is not interested in making the hardware but that its speech division will license the embedded speech software development kit to developers working on almost any platform.
The SDK includes recognition for 500 words, enough for most command and control functions, as well as unlimited text-to-speech capability for reading e-mail messages.
As part of the unit, flash memory was used to store longer voice episodes, which according to Barnes could then be hot-synced via the Palm cradle to a desktop that included a full version of ViaVoice. The desktop version would convert the voice .wav files to text and automatically send them back to the Palm.
IBM would not say which hardware vendors may create products, but a number of PDA as well as car manufacturers are interested.
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/printable/article.asp?aid=15638
Read comments about the IBM PSA project from Paul Fernhout, who personally worked on the project: http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=94339
In 3/00 IBM followed up this demonstration with the release of an embedded version of its ViaVoice speech engine for handhelds. Additionally, IBM's embedded ViaVoice will enable other devices, such as cars and telephones themselves, to take voice commands. Recall Ron Smith's comments made 8 months later that the technology used in the car, PDA, and phone are substantially the same.
NEC-a VoiceTimes member
Did you note the reference to a NEC processor above? At first I was bothered by this reference thinking that maybe this is not an intel/edig project. However, I now realize that IBM's PDA, the WorkPad z50 is powered by a NEC MIPS 131 MHz (5) processor, has 16MB RAM standard, (upgradable to 48 MB) and 20MB (6) ROM. It includes an integrated 33.6Kbps (7) modem, serial port, SVGA external port, speaker, microphone and Infrared port for wireless transfer of data between desktop PCs and other mobile devices. IBM Mobile Connect, an IBM pervasive computing application, helps to improve performance by synchronizing Palm OS and Windows CE-based devices directly with corporate networks, moving synchronization from an individual's desktop PC to a company's server. Also, remember that NEC is now also a member of the VoiceTimes alliance.
Additionally, voice recognition software requires more power than an NEC processor provides. Recently, I came across message board posts relating to an NEC laptop:
re NEC MobilePro 790 October 19, 2000
The reason why NEC won't be (apparently) using one of their own processors in the next-generation HPC2000 MobilePro 790 is that the NEC VR processor has a maximum clock speed of 168Mhz.
A quote from a reliable source at NEC ref the new HPC 2000 offering for NEC.
"The new NEC 790 significantly improves on the fine attributes of the NEC 780. New features include 64MB 50 mhz SDRAM, a TFT color screen and magnesium alloy case. Overall dimensions remain generally the same as the NEC 780. Boasting a StrongArm 206 Mhz processor, this is the system to beat in this form factor."
The IBM's VoiceTimes' alliance webpage made a special point of discussing the PVA and survey results taken:
"IBM Voice Systems presented a Technology Concept Demo at Mobile Insights 2000 (MI2000) that featured a voice-enabled IBM WorkPad handheld computer. This concept demo was dubbed the "PVA" (Personal Voice Assistant). The PVA demo was created as a concept demo, designed to demonstrate voice recognition technology in a handheld device. IBM made no promise to announce the PVA as a product, nor did IBM make any guarantee to announce a voice-enabled handheld device in the future.
The PVA demo was voted best of show. The demo showcased award-winning IBM Embedded ViaVoice technology that was used to activate standard PDA tasks such as Address Book, To-do List, Memo, Calendar, etc. Attendee feedback demonstrated that smart handheld devices (SHDs) such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) can be used more effectively when users are able to interact with them using voice commands.
The IBM PVA Demo showcased voice input and Text-To-Speech (TTS) output. It was shown on a lab-built cradle that housed a microphone, speaker, battery and the LRCC (Low Resource Command and Control) IBM ViaVoice Speech Engine. A Palm III or a Palm V could be snapped into the cradle through the onboard serial port. The hardware shown was conceptual in nature and was designed only to demonstrate the function and capabilities of voice-enabling.
Gentex Develops New Microphone for the Automotive Industry
ZEELAND, Mich., Dec. 18, 2001/PRNewswire/ -- You already look in the mirror
while driving, but soon you'll be talking to it, thanks in part to a new
microphone technology integrated into your vehicle's interior rearview mirror.
Gentex Corporation (Nasdaq: GNTX), the Zeeland, Michigan-based
manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and commercial fire
protection products, has developed a new microphone designed specifically for
the automotive environment. With more and more automotive manufacturers
looking to include hands-free cell phones, navigation systems and other voice-
activated services in the vehicle, Gentex decided to engineer a custom
microphone to support these functions.
"We found you can't simply modify a typical off-the-shelf microphone and
think it's going to function properly in a vehicle," said Ken La Grand,
Gentex's executive vice president. "The automotive environment is just too
harsh. So, about two years ago, we hired a complete microphone development
team -- about 90 years of combined experience -- and set out to develop from
scratch a high-performance microphone dedicated for use inside the vehicle."
Several automotive manufacturers have already adopted the Gentex
microphone technology and are currently working to integrate it into their
vehicles. DaimlerChrysler was the first to announce that it will use a Gentex
microphone as part of the Chrysler Group's recently announced hands-free,
voice-recognition communications system, which the company plans to factory-
install on various vehicles beginning in early 2003.
In order to accurately transmit the human voice, in-vehicle microphones
have to account for road vibration, air movement, blower noise,
electromagnetic noise generated by the vehicles own electrical currents, and
additional sounds coming from the radio and other vehicle occupants.
Automotive microphones also have to withstand moisture and extreme
temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to 185 degrees Fahrenheit.
To tackle these unique demands, Gentex's new, proprietary microphone
technology incorporates a variety of design elements. For starters, Gentex's
new microphone technology is completely water resistant. The entire
microphone cavity is sealed to keep moisture out, and the Company has designed
a special protective grill, or mesh screen, that sheds water away from the
microphone element.
Because microphones work best when they're engineered to function within a
specific, known environment, Gentex's microphone is integrated into the top of
one of the Company's automatic-dimming rearview mirrors. Gentex is able to
fine-tune the microphone's acoustical properties for optimum performance
because rearview mirrors are in the driver's natural "line-of-speech," and
they're located in approximately the same position in every vehicle.
"By integrating the microphone into our mirrors, we also control the
installation process, which means we know the microphone is going to function
properly in the car," said La Grand. "It also allows us to automate the
assembly process, which further assures a quality product and yields
predictable, consistent microphone performance characteristics."
Air blowing from the vehicle's defroster can generate noise as it flows
over a microphone. To prevent air- movement-induced disturbances, Gentex
developed a proprietary air deflector that redirects air movement away from
the microphone.
Microphones can also pick up unwanted interference from the vehicle's own
electrical currents. Vehicle components such as alternators, power windows
and sunroof motors can produce an electrical "hum" that can be picked up by a
microphone. Gentex has developed a method of canceling the electromagnetic
noise generated by the vehicle's own electrical currents.
Gentex's new microphone technology also exceeds automotive temperature-
range specifications, and is protected against RF (radio frequency) signals
generated by cell phones and other electronic devices.
La Grand believes Gentex's foray into the automotive microphone business
shouldn't surprise anyone. "Microphone development is a natural extension of
our business because Gentex is first and foremost an electronics company," he
said. "Our specialty is delivering advanced electronic features through the
rearview mirror. Our goal is to turn the mirror into a strategic electronic
module, and since microphones are becoming an integral part of the vehicle,
they're becoming an integral part of our business."
What is Intel IPP?
Intel Integrated Performance Primitives (IPP) are:
• A low-level software layer, common across server, desktop, and handheld processors and
Windows* and Linux* operating systems, including embedded systems
• A wide variety of image, audio, video, and speech capabilities available across Intel
microprocessor platforms.
• Highly optimized processor-specific code
• A standard platform for application software developers with great application
performance on Intel’s current and future microprocessors.
• More than two thousand functions for signal and image processing, and all functions are
available to programmers through the single API.
The Intel IPP is very useful and provides extremely optimized functions working on many
platforms.
Why “Primitives”?
They are primitives because the functions:
• Perform basic operations
• Do one thing
• Do not use any complex data structure or I/O operations
• Have low overhead
• Have well-defined interfaces and predictable behavior
Why “Integrated”?
The primitives developed for different platforms use the same API, allowing easy porting of
applications to different platforms. The primitives can be used in every library and every
application on Intel processors, operating on Windows and Linux platforms.
Why “Performance”?
The primitives are highly optimized for Intel processors. Several tricks described below can help
realize the potential performance of IPP functions to the full extent.
Why should I use the IPP?
The IPP is intended to make the development of cross-platform code with high-performance on
multiple systems a possibility.
2/18/02 Good Vibrations (first draft)
Recently, e.Digital made public for the first time a design win in the telematics market.
January 7, 2002- e.Digital Corporation and Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten announced today that the companies have collaborated for several months to develop and deliver state-of-the-art automotive OEM and aftermarket infotainment systems integrating the latest digital audio, voice recognition, data storage, video, and wireless Internet technologies for sale under the Eclipse brand name. This includes integration of onboard cellular phone, GPS, video, and audio into a single voice-controlled automotive system. Technology development will include navigation and control as well as wireless access and integration with home networks."
As many of you know, I have been looking into e.digital's possible involvement in the telematics market for almost two years. I confess and acknowledge that I was surprised by the announcement with Fujitsu Ten. Something you should keep in mind when reading the remainder of this. So is that it, did I miss the boat in my previous ruminations on this topic. I think not but only time will tell--but we are not too far off now.
So if anyone is interested, I have decided to put on my "longtooth" and update some prior ramblings on the topic-- may be even in time for the 2/19/02 edig CC. Recent communications from e.digital's management would suggest in fact that its telematics agenda is becoming one of its important markets.
January 16, 2002
Automotive Business
"We were pleased to announce last week an automotive product developed and designed through our collaboration with Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten. The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten automotive product (MP-3 Changer) introduced at CES represents the first automotive system incorporating e.Digital's MicroOS and VoiceNav(TM) technologies. In addition to the design shown at the Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten booth, e.Digital demonstrated an advanced prototype of the product utilizing a beta version of its MicroOS 3.0 which enables music files to be remotely transferred from a PC to the player via 802.11 wireless protocol.
The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten product is the first of several major opportunities for our technology to be included in next-generation automotive infotainment systems. Infotainment systems are part of the automotive telematics market, which is expected to be worth over $1.1 billion in 2002, and projected to grow 16-fold by 2006. (Telematics Research Group). There is significant interest among several automotive electronics manufacturers and suppliers in e.Digital's digital data management and wireless infotainment solutions. Automotive infotainment and telematics applications are expected to generate substantial licensing, NRE fees, and royalties for your Company. Each OEM agreement may also include revenue for manufacturing services, warranty services, marketing, customer service, order fulfillment, and technical support services."
February 11, 2002
Automotive Business
"The burgeoning automotive telematics market is a strategic target for our immediate and long-term business expansion. e.Digital technology, including our MicroOSTM file management system and our VoiceNavTM user-independent speech recognition interface, enables automotive OEMs and ODMs to incorporate additional features and successfully meet safety objectives in automotive telematics and infotainment solutions.
Automotive telematics is the wireless exchange or delivery of communication, information, and other content between the auto and/or occupants and external sources....Based on over two years of internal development, and growing interest in our VoiceNav and MicroOS technologies, we are making automotive telematics solutions a primary focus of our OEM and ODM technology development and marketing efforts.
Based on the work we have done and continue to do, we are expanding our business in this area and taking advantage of significant near-term and long-term revenue opportunities available to us. The revenue opportunities from the automotive telematics applications of our products and technologies is potentially far greater than even those from portable consumer devices, both in royalties and margins."
As e.digital has acknowledged, this is not an area of business that it just dreamed up and started a few months back with Fujitsu. I would suggest e.digital's beginnings in this area were an outgrowth of the VoiceTimes' alliance and its previous dealings with Intel and IBM which no doubt led to it being included as an inaugural member of VoiceTimes.
VoiceTimes alliance
April 13, 1999 – e.Digital Corporation along with IBM, Intel and other leaders in speech recognition and mobile technologies today announced at the DemoMobile 99 conference the formation of the Voice Technology Initiative for Mobile Enterprise Solutions (VoiceTIMES)....With the explosive growth of mobile devices and the increasing demand for network access, the VoiceTIMES initiative was formed to define specifications for how voice commands and information are transmitted and received by existing and future mobile devices.
''We believe VoiceTIMES will allow e.Digital to expand development of speech-based mobile information gathering devices and leverage our product designs in to many additional industry solutions.'' (Falk} ''In today's world of pervasive computing, users want simple, fast and hassle free mobile computing devices to connect and communicate.'' said W.S. ''Ozzie'' Osborne, general manager of IBM Speech Systems. ''Through joint collaboration, the VoiceTIMES alliance aims to eliminate complexities for the consumer and solutions integrator, while providing future generations of standard compliant speech-enabled mobile products. VoiceTIMES will allow mobile users to compute — anytime, anywhere.
Q: How does this fit into the mobile industries overall strategy?
A: Just like with VXML, Java and the Internet, VoiceTIMES is driving open standards technology to one day eliminate the complexity of doing business. Through pervasive computing, VoiceTIMES hopes to create an infrastructure to provide open standards for the mobile industry, including telematics.
What VoiceTimes and the concept of pervasive computing should teach you is that you CANNOT look at the concept of telematics in an isolated vacuum apart from the rest of mobile communications. For example, shortly before Voicetimes, in January 1999 IBM performed a focus group market survey regarding 3 voice driven mobile products which results were posted on IBM's Voicetimes website:
Selected Survey Results
Three 'Concepts' were discussed:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,(think telematics)
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
Immediate access to information was PVA/PDA enthusiasts' leading desire for voice-activated usage, while 'being able to contact others' was the leading desire for smartphone users. Most participants agreed that 'hands-free'/'eyes-free' operation was the feature that they found most important. The results of the survey concluded that adding voice to PDAs and Smartphones is the next 'natural' step for enhancing smart handheld devices, and it supports the VoiceTIMES vision to expand Voice Technology. Clearly the "hands-free/eyes-free" killer application is best designed for the telematics market.
If you will recall, a few months later Intel announces its own PVA- Personal Vehicle Assistant. In fact, over 1 1/2 years ago wtmgyes wrote IBM about VoiceTimes and received the following response:
"The products we announced can and will use VoiceTIMES
specification verified devices. VoiceTIMES is the initiative to create open specifications for mobile devices. The specifications that VoiceTIMES is currently working on and will be working on in the future will be used to access the mobile Internet through our software.
Perfect examples are our voice-enabled automotive solution and the PVA. Both solutions use the VoiceTIMES specification for their internet access devices."
Tom Houy
Manager, Client Systems Marketing
IBM Speech Systems
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=364361&x=11&y=7
In connection with writing this post, I came across an article from a German magazine posted on Siemens website which contains the following which I believes exemplifies the concept that telematics will be looked at as one part of mobile communications. (Siemens is an important member of Bluetooth's Special Interest Group (SIG), a collection of wireless telecommunications and computing leaders. This group was founded in 1998 by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba to create a global specification for short-range, wireless connectivity. Here's the excerpt:
"What, then, might a normal working day look like once the promise of third-generation mobile communications has been fulfilled? Over breakfast, you might take in the latest news from the Internet on your e-book. Meanwhile, your personal digital assistant (PDA)—a UMTS terminal—coordinates the family rota for the coffee machine. With time running short, you send back unread articles to the PDA, which saves them for later. You then leave the house, having instructed the terminal to lock the door.
Once in the garage, the PDA automatically transmits your id, unlocks the vehicle and immediately consults your diary in order to work out the best route. Out on the road, it's time for a little music. So you whistle a melody into your PDA, which immediately begins an Internet search for an appropriate piece of music. At the same time, it puts through an important call from a colleague at work.
Having arrived at the office, the terminal checks for any extra appointments with the computer at your desk. It turns out you have a new customer. Naturally, electronic business cards are automatically exchanged during the first conversation. Meanwhile, a video conference organized by your PDA with engineers in France helps you to clear up a technical problem.
In this way, the working day proceeds smoothly, periodically interrupted by WAP sport and market news. By the time you're ready to leave the office, the terminal has already brought your diary up to date and booked a table at your favorite restaurant. As you head for the allotted table, a discrete tone in your breast pocket announces that the PDA has received the menu. Should you decide to activate your terminal, your favorite dish will appear at the top of the list of those on offer.
Later, as you approach your car to drive home, the vehicle door opens automatically, your favorite radio station comes on and the seat adjusts to your ideal position. Any e-mails received are read out, and the answering machine back home is checked for messages. All this could one day be possible thanks to the Voicetimes project, which enables the information terminal to handle speech in three ways: A speaker-recognition function protects the equipment against unauthorized use, just like a pin code. Voice synthesis allows information to be conveyed in the form of speech—for example, a traffic warning to drivers. Finally, speech recognition makes the keyboard redundant.
When you arrive back home, the door opens and the latest news from your favorite electronic newspaper appears on a screen. While you are reading, the coffee machine goes into action and notes important messages for the rest of the family via a Bluetooth interface.
By way of relaxation, the terminal then shows you the latest edition of new world, which contains an article describing how the fourth generation of communications technology is going to revolutionize your life.
Depending on your viewpoint, you will be left feeling elated or depressed. Ultimately, there are many missing links in the scenario sketched above—not least a description of the software that will manage the availability of your UMTS terminal while simultaneously guarding your private sphere. Moreover, the role of the automobile and the office may change radically if numerous members of the Car2Net generation decide they want to telework from home. But one thing is certain: the scenario is generally correct. Are you starting to feel your age? If so, it may well be a sign that "the times they are a-changin'.""
Again what is important to realize is that telematics is not being developed in a vacuum. The integration of smartphones, PDAs, and platforms such as Java, Bluetooth, and 802.11 are being incorporated into developing a cost conscious telematics experience. (See for example the Johnson Controls Chrysler approach discussed below.)
e.Digital's pre-VoiceTimes involvement and beyond
Prior to the formation of VoiceTimes, in August 1998, e.digital announced that it had signed an agreement to design and develop a digital voice recorder for Intel Corporation. 6/28/99 Falk newsletter: Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
In July, 1999, a S.D. newspaper article gives some inkling about the edig/intel project:
e.Digital
POWAY -- "Someday soon, people may be able to harvest news articles, e-mail and other bits of text off the Internet and listen as this information is read aloud from portable devices.
The first steps toward that ambitious goal are happening here, inside the offices of e.Digital Corp. Giant chipmaker Intel is paying the Lilliputian Poway company for research and development costs aimed at making new speech-to-text, text-to-speech gizmos. The project, which began last year but stalled when the companies dumped a third-party technology partner in favor of another unnamed firm, remains hush-hush. The companies won't even reveal drawings of what the device looks like.
Still, Skip Matthews, a senior project development manager for Intel's Memory Components Division, coyly hinted at the project's capabilities. "What if you had a device that could read The Wall Street Journal to you while you're in your car?" he said, declining to elaborate."
Clearly this article demonstrates that at least part of the e.Digital/intel project is focused on telematics. A month later, Skip Matthews "retires" and joins e.Digital's BOD.
8/1/99 Dr. Matthews joins e.Digital's Board upon retirement from a distinguished 25-year career with Intel Corporation with his last position being Senior Project Development Manager. "I was attracted to e.Digital because they were the first to adopt flash memory in an audio recorder. There is great potential for further application of e.Digital's technology in Internet music players and even more advanced audio applications such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems."
8/30/99 Falk newsletter update: We are continuing to make significant progress on the Intel voice recorder prototypes with the project taking some interesting new turns into areas of new technology development that we expect will be very beneficial to e.Digital. We remain on track with IBM, Intel, Philips and our other VoiceTIMES Alliance partners in setting new protocols for voice recording in portable digital devices. [NB: Note the use of plural "prototypes". Clearly there is more than one type of device being developed as made clear in Falk's 9/30/99 update when he refers to "new OEM relationships". Also note the reference to Philips who at the time of the formation of VoiceTimes alliance had licensed IBM's TTS technology for use in future products.]
To this date we have not heard any news regarding e.Digital's 1998 project with Intel or the prototypes created therefrom. Is the project dead and buried? Should we just forget about it and move on? What do we know? It is my SPECULATION that the Intel project involved at least two different projects: the initial project involving VR for a PDA/recorder and the new turn being VR integration into a telematics system. (In reality, it is one theme with different corollaries. Time and again, Intel executives have indicated these solutions derive from the same building blocks. See 11/00 Smith comments below for example.)What little facts that we do know is that e.digital had completed its work on the project sometime in 2000, a number of other companies were involved, and edig thought there would be a public announcement about it by the end of 2000. In fact no announcement came. Was this just more "RP/FF carrot BS" which many of you believe is the only thing they have perfected? I don't think so for the following reasons.
I have previously contended that one of the 1998 intel/edig projects was part of the following:
Cadillacs to Get Voice-Activated Calling by Year's End
General Motors to embed cellular services in one million 2001 vehicles
By Lee Copeland and Lee Copeland
(Apr. 17, 2000) General Motors Corp. last week accelerated its drive to provide embedded cellular and Web-based services in its vehicles. The Detroit-based automaker said it will offer a Communiport Infotainment PC system developed by Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. in Troy, Mich., in new Cadillacs by the end of this year.
GM officials touted the cellular system as being safer to use while driving than a phone handset. Using a dashboard-based, voice-activated computer, drivers will be able to listen to e-mail messages and make cellular calls. The system is integrated with the vehicle's radio and also features a CD-ROM drive, a navigation system and a voice memo recorder. Drivers would have to forward messages from their existing messaging system to a GM-based account in order to access them from the road.
http://www.computerworld.com/cwi/Printer_Friendly_Version/0,1212,NAV47_STO44447-,00.html
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18295
However, in December 2000, GM decided to delay the implementation of the Infotainment PC option until 2001. To the best of my knowledge, it continues to be on indefinite hold.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18321
What's happened since then? We again need to back up a little bit and review the Intel and IBM involvement in pervasive computing and telematics in general and then specifically.
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67769
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67776
IBM and Telematics
"IBM is involved in almost every aspect of telematics, working directly with several major automobile manufacturers and with automotive suppliers including Motorola and ATX. IBM’s products and services include embedded computers, embedded Java, speech and voice recognition products like Via Voice, middleware and infrastructure products including WebSphere Everyplace Suite and WebSphere Everyplace Portal, tools and development environments for content and application providers, and hosted portals and services. Among the many telematics activities currently being pursued by automakers and others, IBM is participating in:
· DaimlerChrysler Services/Mobility Management, which provides topical tips for travelers about movies, shows, the arts and dining in the areas they visit, along with navigation aids and parking data.
· ATX’s interactive voice recognition/speech response technology, which uses IBM’s Direct Talk voice processing platform and ViaVoice speech recognition technology.
· PSA Peugeot Citroen’s prototype networked car based on Xsara Picasso, Citroen’s intelligent automotive application.
· Projects with DaimlerChrysler, Motorola, Intel and PSA Peugeot Citroen, all of which are using IBM’s VisualAge Micro Edition embedded Java 2 technology.
· Myautogarage.com from ADP, a Web-based service linking dealers with motorists for easier and faster maintenance and management of their vehicles, which is powered by IBM.
· Motorola’s iRadio offering, which uses a variety of IBM products and services to deliver e-mail and custom entertainment options to automobiles through Motorola cell phone technology."
[This is taken from a May 2001 article written by Raj Desai Director, IBM Worldwide Telematics Solutions. I highly recommend reading the full article: http://www.ebizchronicle.com/columns01/may/telematics.htm.
DELPHI
In 1998, a PR announced that IBM was working with Delphi and SunMicrosytems to develop a "network vehicle" with IBM providing java-based and VR technology. IBM has continued to work with Delphi to develop among other telematics products, the Communiport Infotainment PC. Recently, on February 13, 2002 IBM and Delphi confirmed their ongoing relationship in telematics:
IBM Receives Delphi Business For Next-Gen Multi-Media Car Products
Combines IT, Auto Expertise For Full-Fledged Digital Dashboards
ARMONK, NY, and TROY, MI--(INTERNET WIRE)--Feb 13, 2002 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM - news) announced today that Delphi Automotive Systems has chosen IBM's J9(TM) virtual machine environment, as a foundation technology for the development of automobile multimedia products. These products can enable motor vehicles to communicate in real-time with drivers, dealers, manufacturers and others in the industry's value chain.
Delphi will use the IBM J9 virtual machine environment in the design of new mobile multimedia products that include embedded, real-time control systems using full-motion video, speech and voice processing, Internet and Java(TM) technologies to enhance communications and entertainment applications for original equipment vehicles. Products expected to result from the collaboration range from dashboard control features to information, entertainment, navigation and messaging.....
IBM's embedded virtual machine technology has been developed, deployed and refined for more than a dozen years. In August 2001, IBM was the first to develop and distribute the J9 J2ME "Java Powered" environment simultaneously across multiple platforms. The J9 virtual machine environment has proved in independent testing to provide a high-performance, compact environment for running embedded Java applications across a broad range of processors. Complementing the J9 virtual machine, IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition allows developers to quickly and easily create and deploy e-business applications to automotive Telematics devices, hand-held computers, PDA's and cellular telephones. More information is available at www.ibm.com/embedded.
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM is among the first companies to offer leading-edge technology and tools to its customers and enable them to deliver advanced Telematics Solutions. Through years of expertise and research in the Automotive industry, IBM and IBM Business Partners have built a flexible and reliable portfolio of software (such as speech recognition and wireless technologies), hardware, IT services, development platforms and innovative tools. Our end-to-end architecture fully integrates open standards. It links both portable and embedded hardware devices to the Internet via wireless networks and leverages Java applications to exchange data to and from the vehicles with Wireless Telematics Service Providers. Addressing issues such as safety, privacy, convenience and connectivity, our in-vehicle information systems and solutions enable our customers to deliver hands-free and eyes-free technology as part of developing invaluable and long-term relationships with their customers. As the Telematics revolution is now gaining momentum in other industries such as Insurance, Petroleum and Commercial market, our vision will prepare our customers for the next generation of e-business infrastructure for many years to come. Please visit our Telematics Solutions site at www.ibm.com/industries/automotive for further details and references.
On October 26, 2001, IBM announced a broad range of new customers, partners and products in its comprehensive strategy to provide voice recognition software for mobile e-business.
New customers and partners span three continents and key targets of IBM's voice business: the automobile industry for telematics, the growing market segment for products and services that deliver wireless voice and data information to vehicles; manufacturers of personal digital assistants and other mobile devices; telephone call centers; and e-businesses of all sizes.
They include major automotive supplier Johnson Controls, which has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice as the speech software for its telematics offerings - including an innovative, voice-enabled communications system that will be deployed by the Chrysler Group.
IBM's voice recognition software relies on open, non-proprietary standards such as VoiceXML and Java, which make it easy to create software for people to access information by voice over the phone and helps businesses integrate disparate systems.
IBM's new customers and partners in telematics:
Plymouth, Mich.-based automotive supplier Johnson Controls has selected IBM as its speech software provider for all of its upcoming telematics offerings to the auto industry. Its first implementation is a voice-enabled mobile communications system for the Chrysler Group. An industry first, the system requires only the push of a button to make a call - all other functions are engaged via voice commnds. It consists of a receiver module behind the dashboard, an embedded microphone in the rear-view mirror, and the driver's own mobile phone. The phone will synchronize with the receiver module to create a wireless connection via Bluetooth technology with the car's audio system. When a call is placed, audio is suspended, and the call comes through the speakers. IBM's software will allow drivers to use spoken commands (in English, French or Spanish) to place calls or access the system's audio address book, customizable by the owner. The system will be available in an aftermarket version in spring 2002 and factory installed in 2003.
Intel is working with IBM's Embedded ViaVoice to support its strategy to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car platform based on Intel® StrongARM and upcoming Intel® XScale processors. Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, the Intel XScale microarchitecture is an ideal microprocessor solution for telematics.
Hitachi, a worldwide provider of car infotainment systems, is supporting IBM's Embedded Via Voice recognition on Hitachi SH-4-based platforms (HARP) for automotive applications. The hardware platforms are designed to run with all major operating systems.
QNX, a provider of operating systems for automobile electronics, has partnered with IBM for voice recognition. The QNX operating system will support the Embedded ViaVoice product for telematics. Embedded ViaVoice runs on both an operating system and a hardware platform to ensure the two interoperate. Voice-enabled telematics applications developed on the QNX operating system are designed to run on major automotive telematics platforms such as Intel, Hitachi and Motorola.
In the handheld computer market:
Legend Computers, the largest computer company in China, has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite in simpilfied Chinese to voice-enable its new handheld computers to be available in Q1 2002. The IBM software will give users a natural alternative to the stylus or keyboard in operating the devices, and the added convenience of being able to listen to rather than read information and messages.
On Oct. 4, Compaq announced it is using IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite to voice-enable its new iPAQ H3800 Pocket PC Series, one of the world's first commercially available handheld computers to let users access and receive information with human speech.
MOTOROLA
On 9/14/99, Motorola announced a relationship with QNX Software Systems Ltd., IBM, and Embedded Planet (formerly RPCG) to develop MobileGT Architecture, initially targeted for automotive driver information systems. MobileGT is an open, Java-centric architecture that can allow automobile manufacturers to easily and cost-effectively develop advanced driver information systems to fit their specific platforms. MobileGT's flexible, modular computing platform is scaleable across a wide range of products, allowing automobile manufacturers to leverage a common development approach while providing product differentiation through tailored and system integration. MobileGT can address a wide array of in-vehicle applications -- dynamic navigation, wireless connectivity and Internet access, natural language speech processing, car audio, virtual dashboards, multimedia and more.
MobileGT also incorporates IBM's VisualAge for Embedded Systems, Java(TM) Technology Edition virtual machine and development tools optimized for use with QNX Neutrino. This proven execution environment supports configuration-based deployment of applications, giving the developers the ability to build ultra-compact runtime components.
In follow-up, on January 14, 2000, IBM and Motorola said they will join to develop technology to help automakers add a variety of wireless and Web-based services automobiles.The companies will focus on telematics which includes communications and navigation capabilities such as real-time traffic routing. It also can include Internet capabilities such as e-mail.
The companies note that because cars move, telematics requires a network connection that is both precise and durable. IBM says it will contribute its expertise in computer hardware, software and network management.
Beyond those generalities, the companies offered few details, other than to say they already were approaching automotive manufacturers about potential products.
IBM/Mot formed a platform called MobileGT, an easily upgradable computer that can accept peripherals like cell phones, PDAs and other gear that might be used in cars. http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20000211S0057
With the coming of AMIC [the Automotive Multimedia Interface Consortium], the industry said it wanted Java, and that became a central theme for our group."
In March, 2000, IBM and Motorola announced plans to join forces to help meet the growing demand for e-businesses worldwide to link data and applications to wireless devices. The companies announced their intent to jointly develop an open, highly scalable offering that will form the basis of a "voice and data engine" which will offer businesses an easy way to develop and access wireless applications and services. For example, carriers could use this offering to allow businesses to provide mobile workers real-time access to email, stock quotes, news, and corporate resources via wireless devices. By combining Motorola's device-aware front-end technology with IBM's middleware technology, this framework will provide optimal wireless data services to businesses around the world.
Mark Bregman, general manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing Division said "Working together with Motorola we will get to market faster with a product that operators need to give their business subscribers what they crave - access to information and services, virtually anytime, anywhere." This relationship builds on the existing collaboration between IBM and Motorola to enable the delivery of innovative new telematics products. In January, the companies announced that they would work together to provide the end-to-end resources to help car manufacturers offer exciting new wireless services to their customers. The agreement builds on the strong position of Motorola's Integrated Electronic Systems Sector (IESS) group with IBM's systems and services expertise.
On January 9, 2001, Motorola announced that it will license Java technology and voice recognition software from IBM, for use in the Motorola Telematics iRadio™ system. The Motorola iRadio™ system is a complete solution that offers a packaged multimedia functionality, which can be accessed at home, in the car and on the individual mobile devices. The Java-based platform allows the product to access personalised, location-based services, real time traffic information, dynamic off-board navigation, music-on- demand, eCommerce options and email. With speech recognition and additional features, Motorola's iRadio system delivers information, communications and entertainment to the car without diverting the driver's attention. Motorola's iRadio offers the latest user interfaces and applications and IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition Java technology. A key feature of IBM's Java technology is that it enables new applications and services to be added and enhanced remotely without inconveniencing consumers.
Motorola is also using IBM Embedded ViaVoice Multiplatform Edition for voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities.
IBM's ViaVoice enables drivers to use voice commands, as an alternative input to faceplate controls, for accessing information such as weather, news and sports, select a favorite radio station or other iRadio system applications.
INTEL
At the same time IBM and Motorola announced its telematics relationship, so did IBM and Intel; Motorola said it would support the IBM/Intel work. On 1/25/00 Intel and IBM announced they are collaborating on in-car computing products that will enable automakers to provide wireless and Web-based services such as navigation, communication, and information. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the in-vehicle information systems. The software suite includes IBM's VisualAge MicroEdition, which incorporates embedded Java, as well as voice-recognition and text-to-speech functions. This software is used, along with interfaces to the vehicle, to communicate information to the driver and the outside world via the Internet. The companies said Motorola Inc. will also support the venture.
IBM and Intel officials said the partnership won't compete with carmakers or auto suppliers developing technology to create Web-enabled vehicles. In fact, they're potential customers. "Automakers and their suppliers are our partners," said Walt Davison, IBM's marketing executive for the automotive industry. "We're not competing with them; we're doing what we do best to help them do what they do best." IBM expects automakers to start offering vehicles with in-car computing systems next year. "The earliest consumers will see vehicles with in-car computing systems on the road will be in 18 months," Desai said.
http://detnews.com/2000/technology/0002/10/02100040.htm
IBM claims: Automotive pervasive computing is a reality -- where people use ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech software to interact with their automobiles the same way that they interact with their computers. IBM is working with automobile manufacturers so that drivers can run diagnostics from the road, search the Internet for a stock price and even make a service appointment with the manufacturer simply by speaking to their e-mail.
In July 2000, IBM announced that engineers and developers can now deploy connected Java language-based solutions across a wider array of embedded targets using IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition tools, class libraries and virtual machines. While VisualAge Micro Edition remains optimized for QNX's Neutrino real-time operating system, IBM has also added support for the iTRON industrial real time operating system and Microsoft Windows CE in response to customer requests.(Regarding iTron, see this 1/01 Redhat PR re DELPHI: "Red Hat eCos (Embedded Configurable Operating System) will be used in several Telematics products and has been selected for Delphi's recently announced "Mobile Productivity Center" (MPC), which is a platform for users of PDA's and Cellular phones. The Delphi MPC allows for hands-free operation of personal electronics like PDAs, along with seamless interface with popular cellular phones.... Delphi came to us with specific requirements that included a Linux application interface and uITRON API compatibility, and we were able to quickly leverage our extensive technical expertise to deliver a cost-effective, single solution that we believe will meet their needs." (IBM is a strong supporter of Linux.)http://www.redhat.com/about/presscenter/2001/press_delphi.html.
"Engineering decisions in the connected post-PC world must focus on customer choice. From the start, IBM designed and built VisualAge Micro Edition for portability and compatibility with published specifications," said Skip McGaughey, IBM director of embedded systems sales and marketing. "As our customers have approached us for new CPU, RTOS and development platform support, we have responded quickly, thanks to our investment in innovation and advanced technology."
Pervasive computing projects will require client and server components that run on multiple embedded targets.
Support for the ARM processor architectures is now included in VisualAge Micro Edition. This includes StrongARM SA-110 and SA-1110 processors and development reference boards from Intel.
On 10/16/00, Intel announced plans to collaborate with IBM* to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car client platform for the expanding Telematics market segment. This collaboration will speed up the delivery of a complete set of Telematics client reference kits supporting the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture. These kits will enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce their time to market and create leading-edge wireless applications. IBM's popular VisualAge® Micro Edition Java™ application development tools and deployment technologies allow developers to quickly and easily leverage existing applications for e-Business.
Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Examples of in-car computing devices and services include navigation systems, emergency roadside assistance, and an array of entertainment applications and services.
Intel's support of IBM's embedded Java application development environment, Java class libraries and the J9 virtual machine for Intel's Xscale microarchitecture reference platforms provides Telematics developers and OEMs with a highly portable and reusable platform. "We are pleased to provide the burgeoning Telematics application development industry and OEMs with what are arguably the strongest wireless building blocks in the industry," said Pat Kerrigan, marketing manager at Intel's In-Car Computing Operation.
"Automotive computing is an important and growing market segment that both Intel and IBM serve with advanced technology and products," said Skip McGaughey, director of marketing and sales for IBM's OTI embedded system group. "With this announcement, IBM takes the important step to broaden VisualAge Micro Edition to embrace Intel's Xscale microarchitecture. www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/converge.htm.
From the 11/00 interview with Intel's Ron Smith, VP of wireless:
KAREN LAKE: Talk to us about the Internet being accessible from the car and where that's going. Is that in your department?
RON SMITH: Yes, that is actually in my department because by definition if you're going to have access from a car, it needs to be wireless and it is in a wide area network because you're not going to be driving your car inside a building. You're going to be driving your car out on the highway.
This is a real exciting area. There are a lot of new things that are going on here. They have already crafted a name for this called telematics. Don't ask me the origin of that name because I don't know.
KAREN LAKE: Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular, voice and Internet services in vehicles. I interrupted you. Please keep going.
RON SMITH: That's right, it's in vehicles. It started out with these emergency services like OnStar, which is actually a call back, a voice service. But now people want to move toward more information services to bring the same kind of capability, Internet access, the location-based services, and so on, to a vehicle. We are actively engaged in that. In fact, just recently we announced a relationship with IBM with their VisualAge capability to help bring some more of that software interface directly to these kinds of devices. We have a number of things going on with a number of manufacturers. Of course, none of them are public yet so I can't really talk about them.{GUESS INTEL IS EVEN SUBJECT TO NDAS!}
KAREN LAKE: Is there really any difference in the technology from a car vs. a PDA vs. a cellular phone? Are they all just adaptations of each other?
RON SMITH: They're all just adaptations of each other. You have the same kinds of requirements. You have to be able to maintain the data when the power goes off.
KAREN LAKE: And that's the Flash memory thing.
RON SMITH: Right. So, you need a Flash memory. You want a low power environment with relatively high performance like you'd get with our XScale microarchitecture. In a battery-operated device, it's pretty obviously needed because you can't drain the battery in a car. You don't want to be draining the car battery, but there are a lot more Amp hours, if you will, in a car battery. But if you're going to store it in a dashboard of a car, you have a lot of space constraints. You can't afford to have cooling hardware associated with that because it's going to be packed into a dashboard with all kinds of other things. So it amounts to the same kind of technology requirements.
CONCLUSION: It is undisputable that IBM and Intel are working together in the telematics arena using a Java-based platform and that Intel and IBM together are working with Motorola in support of Motorola's MobileGT architecture which is Java-centric.
On April 11, 2001, Intel Corporation announced that leading in-car computing software platform vendors are delivering support for the Intel StrongARM processor and future processors based on the Intel XScale microarchitecture. Microsoft Corp., IBM, QNX Software Systems Ltd., Wind River Systems, Inc., Fonix Corporation and Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. are supporting the Intel StrongARM and Intel XScale microarchitectures to enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce "time-to-market" and create sophisticated in-car, voice-enabled wireless applications.
The core software platform recipe for devices in the in-car computing, or telematics, market segment consists of open, scaleable software platforms, extensible and comprehensive development tools and such key complementary technologies -as speech recognition. These combined elements are necessary to deliver adaptable, scaleable telematics devices that will enable and enhance applications and services for the automotive industry. "Our customers asked for each of these solutions by name," said Pat Kerrigan, director for Intel's In-Car Computing Operation. "We feel we have secured industry-wide support from key players to maximize the benefits of the Intel® Personal Internet Client Architecture and to provide our mutual customers with the best telematics development platforms available."
Recently, e.Digital made public for the first time a design win in the telematics market.
January 7, 2002- e.Digital Corporation and Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten announced today that the companies have collaborated for several months to develop and deliver state-of-the-art automotive OEM and aftermarket infotainment systems integrating the latest digital audio, voice recognition, data storage, video, and wireless Internet technologies for sale under the Eclipse brand name. This includes integration of onboard cellular phone, GPS, video, and audio into a single voice-controlled automotive system. Technology development will include navigation and control as well as wireless access and integration with home networks."
As many of you know, I have been looking into e.digital's possible involvement in the telematics market for almost two years. I confess and acknowledge that I was surprised by the announcement with Fujitsu Ten. Something you should keep in mind when reading the remainder of this. So is that it, did I miss the boat in my previous ruminations on this topic. I think not but only time will tell--but we are not too far off now.
So if anyone is interested, I have decided to put on my "longtooth" and update some prior ramblings on the topic-- may be even in time for the 2/19/02 edig CC. Recent communications from e.digital's management would suggest in fact that its telematics agenda is becoming one of its important markets.
January 16, 2002
Automotive Business
"We were pleased to announce last week an automotive product developed and designed through our collaboration with Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten. The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten automotive product (MP-3 Changer) introduced at CES represents the first automotive system incorporating e.Digital's MicroOS and VoiceNav(TM) technologies. In addition to the design shown at the Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten booth, e.Digital demonstrated an advanced prototype of the product utilizing a beta version of its MicroOS 3.0 which enables music files to be remotely transferred from a PC to the player via 802.11 wireless protocol.
The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten product is the first of several major opportunities for our technology to be included in next-generation automotive infotainment systems. Infotainment systems are part of the automotive telematics market, which is expected to be worth over $1.1 billion in 2002, and projected to grow 16-fold by 2006. (Telematics Research Group). There is significant interest among several automotive electronics manufacturers and suppliers in e.Digital's digital data management and wireless infotainment solutions. Automotive infotainment and telematics applications are expected to generate substantial licensing, NRE fees, and royalties for your Company. Each OEM agreement may also include revenue for manufacturing services, warranty services, marketing, customer service, order fulfillment, and technical support services."
February 11, 2002
Automotive Business
"The burgeoning automotive telematics market is a strategic target for our immediate and long-term business expansion. e.Digital technology, including our MicroOSTM file management system and our VoiceNavTM user-independent speech recognition interface, enables automotive OEMs and ODMs to incorporate additional features and successfully meet safety objectives in automotive telematics and infotainment solutions.
Automotive telematics is the wireless exchange or delivery of communication, information, and other content between the auto and/or occupants and external sources....Based on over two years of internal development, and growing interest in our VoiceNav and MicroOS technologies, we are making automotive telematics solutions a primary focus of our OEM and ODM technology development and marketing efforts.
Based on the work we have done and continue to do, we are expanding our business in this area and taking advantage of significant near-term and long-term revenue opportunities available to us. The revenue opportunities from the automotive telematics applications of our products and technologies is potentially far greater than even those from portable consumer devices, both in royalties and margins."
As e.digital has acknowledged, this is not an area of business that it just dreamed up and started a few months back with Fujitsu. I would suggest e.digital's beginnings in this area were an outgrowth of the VoiceTimes' alliance and its previous dealings with Intel and IBM which no doubt led to it being included as an inaugural member of VoiceTimes.
VoiceTimes alliance
April 13, 1999 – e.Digital Corporation along with IBM, Intel and other leaders in speech recognition and mobile technologies today announced at the DemoMobile 99 conference the formation of the Voice Technology Initiative for Mobile Enterprise Solutions (VoiceTIMES)....With the explosive growth of mobile devices and the increasing demand for network access, the VoiceTIMES initiative was formed to define specifications for how voice commands and information are transmitted and received by existing and future mobile devices.
''We believe VoiceTIMES will allow e.Digital to expand development of speech-based mobile information gathering devices and leverage our product designs in to many additional industry solutions.'' (Falk} ''In today's world of pervasive computing, users want simple, fast and hassle free mobile computing devices to connect and communicate.'' said W.S. ''Ozzie'' Osborne, general manager of IBM Speech Systems. ''Through joint collaboration, the VoiceTIMES alliance aims to eliminate complexities for the consumer and solutions integrator, while providing future generations of standard compliant speech-enabled mobile products. VoiceTIMES will allow mobile users to compute — anytime, anywhere.
Q: How does this fit into the mobile industries overall strategy?
A: Just like with VXML, Java and the Internet, VoiceTIMES is driving open standards technology to one day eliminate the complexity of doing business. Through pervasive computing, VoiceTIMES hopes to create an infrastructure to provide open standards for the mobile industry, including telematics.
What VoiceTimes and the concept of pervasive computing should teach you is that you CANNOT look at the concept of telematics in an isolated vacuum apart from the rest of mobile communications. For example, shortly before Voicetimes, in January 1999 IBM performed a focus group market survey regarding 3 voice driven mobile products which results were posted on IBM's Voicetimes website:
Selected Survey Results
Three 'Concepts' were discussed:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,(think telematics)
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
Immediate access to information was PVA/PDA enthusiasts' leading desire for voice-activated usage, while 'being able to contact others' was the leading desire for smartphone users. Most participants agreed that 'hands-free'/'eyes-free' operation was the feature that they found most important. The results of the survey concluded that adding voice to PDAs and Smartphones is the next 'natural' step for enhancing smart handheld devices, and it supports the VoiceTIMES vision to expand Voice Technology. Clearly the "hands-free/eyes-free" killer application is best designed for the telematics market.
If you will recall, a few months later Intel announces its own PVA- Personal Vehicle Assistant. In fact, over 1 1/2 years ago wtmgyes wrote IBM about VoiceTimes and received the following response:
"The products we announced can and will use VoiceTIMES
specification verified devices. VoiceTIMES is the initiative to create open specifications for mobile devices. The specifications that VoiceTIMES is currently working on and will be working on in the future will be used to access the mobile Internet through our software.
Perfect examples are our voice-enabled automotive solution and the PVA. Both solutions use the VoiceTIMES specification for their internet access devices."
Tom Houy
Manager, Client Systems Marketing
IBM Speech Systems
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=364361&x=11&y=7
In connection with writing this post, I came across an article from a German magazine posted on Siemens website which contains the following which I believes exemplifies the concept that telematics will be looked at as one part of mobile communications. (Siemens is an important member of Bluetooth's Special Interest Group (SIG), a collection of wireless telecommunications and computing leaders. This group was founded in 1998 by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba to create a global specification for short-range, wireless connectivity. Here's the excerpt:
"What, then, might a normal working day look like once the promise of third-generation mobile communications has been fulfilled? Over breakfast, you might take in the latest news from the Internet on your e-book. Meanwhile, your personal digital assistant (PDA)—a UMTS terminal—coordinates the family rota for the coffee machine. With time running short, you send back unread articles to the PDA, which saves them for later. You then leave the house, having instructed the terminal to lock the door.
Once in the garage, the PDA automatically transmits your id, unlocks the vehicle and immediately consults your diary in order to work out the best route. Out on the road, it's time for a little music. So you whistle a melody into your PDA, which immediately begins an Internet search for an appropriate piece of music. At the same time, it puts through an important call from a colleague at work.
Having arrived at the office, the terminal checks for any extra appointments with the computer at your desk. It turns out you have a new customer. Naturally, electronic business cards are automatically exchanged during the first conversation. Meanwhile, a video conference organized by your PDA with engineers in France helps you to clear up a technical problem.
In this way, the working day proceeds smoothly, periodically interrupted by WAP sport and market news. By the time you're ready to leave the office, the terminal has already brought your diary up to date and booked a table at your favorite restaurant. As you head for the allotted table, a discrete tone in your breast pocket announces that the PDA has received the menu. Should you decide to activate your terminal, your favorite dish will appear at the top of the list of those on offer.
Later, as you approach your car to drive home, the vehicle door opens automatically, your favorite radio station comes on and the seat adjusts to your ideal position. Any e-mails received are read out, and the answering machine back home is checked for messages. All this could one day be possible thanks to the Voicetimes project, which enables the information terminal to handle speech in three ways: A speaker-recognition function protects the equipment against unauthorized use, just like a pin code. Voice synthesis allows information to be conveyed in the form of speech—for example, a traffic warning to drivers. Finally, speech recognition makes the keyboard redundant.
When you arrive back home, the door opens and the latest news from your favorite electronic newspaper appears on a screen. While you are reading, the coffee machine goes into action and notes important messages for the rest of the family via a Bluetooth interface.
By way of relaxation, the terminal then shows you the latest edition of new world, which contains an article describing how the fourth generation of communications technology is going to revolutionize your life.
Depending on your viewpoint, you will be left feeling elated or depressed. Ultimately, there are many missing links in the scenario sketched above—not least a description of the software that will manage the availability of your UMTS terminal while simultaneously guarding your private sphere. Moreover, the role of the automobile and the office may change radically if numerous members of the Car2Net generation decide they want to telework from home. But one thing is certain: the scenario is generally correct. Are you starting to feel your age? If so, it may well be a sign that "the times they are a-changin'.""
Again what is important to realize is that telematics is not being developed in a vacuum. The integration of smartphones, PDAs, and platforms such as Java, Bluetooth, and 802.11 are being incorporated into developing a cost conscious telematics experience. (See for example the Johnson Controls Chrysler approach discussed below.)
e.Digital's pre-VoiceTimes involvement and beyond
Prior to the formation of VoiceTimes, in August 1998, e.digital announced that it had signed an agreement to design and develop a digital voice recorder for Intel Corporation. 6/28/99 Falk newsletter: Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
In July, 1999, a S.D. newspaper article gives some inkling about the edig/intel project:
e.Digital
POWAY -- "Someday soon, people may be able to harvest news articles, e-mail and other bits of text off the Internet and listen as this information is read aloud from portable devices.
The first steps toward that ambitious goal are happening here, inside the offices of e.Digital Corp. Giant chipmaker Intel is paying the Lilliputian Poway company for research and development costs aimed at making new speech-to-text, text-to-speech gizmos. The project, which began last year but stalled when the companies dumped a third-party technology partner in favor of another unnamed firm, remains hush-hush. The companies won't even reveal drawings of what the device looks like.
Still, Skip Matthews, a senior project development manager for Intel's Memory Components Division, coyly hinted at the project's capabilities. "What if you had a device that could read The Wall Street Journal to you while you're in your car?" he said, declining to elaborate."
Clearly this article demonstrates that at least part of the e.Digital/intel project is focused on telematics. A month later, Skip Matthews "retires" and joins e.Digital's BOD.
8/1/99 Dr. Matthews joins e.Digital's Board upon retirement from a distinguished 25-year career with Intel Corporation with his last position being Senior Project Development Manager. "I was attracted to e.Digital because they were the first to adopt flash memory in an audio recorder. There is great potential for further application of e.Digital's technology in Internet music players and even more advanced audio applications such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems."
8/30/99 Falk newsletter update: We are continuing to make significant progress on the Intel voice recorder prototypes with the project taking some interesting new turns into areas of new technology development that we expect will be very beneficial to e.Digital. We remain on track with IBM, Intel, Philips and our other VoiceTIMES Alliance partners in setting new protocols for voice recording in portable digital devices. [NB: Note the use of plural "prototypes". Clearly there is more than one type of device being developed as made clear in Falk's 9/30/99 update when he refers to "new OEM relationships". Also note the reference to Philips who at the time of the formation of VoiceTimes alliance had licensed IBM's TTS technology for use in future products.]
To this date we have not heard any news regarding e.Digital's 1998 project with Intel or the prototypes created therefrom. Is the project dead and buried? Should we just forget about it and move on? What do we know? It is my SPECULATION that the Intel project involved at least two different projects: the initial project involving VR for a PDA/recorder and the new turn being VR integration into a telematics system. (In reality, it is one theme with different corollaries. Time and again, Intel executives have indicated these solutions derive from the same building blocks. See 11/00 Smith comments below for example.)What little facts that we do know is that e.digital had completed its work on the project sometime in 2000, a number of other companies were involved, and edig thought there would be a public announcement about it by the end of 2000. In fact no announcement came. Was this just more "RP/FF carrot BS" which many of you believe is the only thing they have perfected? I don't think so for the following reasons.
I have previously contended that one of the 1998 intel/edig projects was part of the following:
Cadillacs to Get Voice-Activated Calling by Year's End
General Motors to embed cellular services in one million 2001 vehicles
By Lee Copeland and Lee Copeland
(Apr. 17, 2000) General Motors Corp. last week accelerated its drive to provide embedded cellular and Web-based services in its vehicles. The Detroit-based automaker said it will offer a Communiport Infotainment PC system developed by Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. in Troy, Mich., in new Cadillacs by the end of this year.
GM officials touted the cellular system as being safer to use while driving than a phone handset. Using a dashboard-based, voice-activated computer, drivers will be able to listen to e-mail messages and make cellular calls. The system is integrated with the vehicle's radio and also features a CD-ROM drive, a navigation system and a voice memo recorder. Drivers would have to forward messages from their existing messaging system to a GM-based account in order to access them from the road.
http://www.computerworld.com/cwi/Printer_Friendly_Version/0,1212,NAV47_STO44447-,00.html
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18295
However, in December 2000, GM decided to delay the implementation of the Infotainment PC option until 2001. To the best of my knowledge, it continues to be on indefinite hold.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18321
What's happened since then? We again need to back up a little bit and review the Intel and IBM involvement in pervasive computing and telematics in general and then specifically.
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67769
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67776
IBM and Telematics
"IBM is involved in almost every aspect of telematics, working directly with several major automobile manufacturers and with automotive suppliers including Motorola and ATX. IBM’s products and services include embedded computers, embedded Java, speech and voice recognition products like Via Voice, middleware and infrastructure products including WebSphere Everyplace Suite and WebSphere Everyplace Portal, tools and development environments for content and application providers, and hosted portals and services. Among the many telematics activities currently being pursued by automakers and others, IBM is participating in:
· DaimlerChrysler Services/Mobility Management, which provides topical tips for travelers about movies, shows, the arts and dining in the areas they visit, along with navigation aids and parking data.
· ATX’s interactive voice recognition/speech response technology, which uses IBM’s Direct Talk voice processing platform and ViaVoice speech recognition technology.
· PSA Peugeot Citroen’s prototype networked car based on Xsara Picasso, Citroen’s intelligent automotive application.
· Projects with DaimlerChrysler, Motorola, Intel and PSA Peugeot Citroen, all of which are using IBM’s VisualAge Micro Edition embedded Java 2 technology.
· Myautogarage.com from ADP, a Web-based service linking dealers with motorists for easier and faster maintenance and management of their vehicles, which is powered by IBM.
· Motorola’s iRadio offering, which uses a variety of IBM products and services to deliver e-mail and custom entertainment options to automobiles through Motorola cell phone technology."
[This is taken from a May 2001 article written by Raj Desai Director, IBM Worldwide Telematics Solutions. I highly recommend reading the full article: http://www.ebizchronicle.com/columns01/may/telematics.htm.
DELPHI
In 1998, a PR announced that IBM was working with Delphi and SunMicrosytems to develop a "network vehicle" with IBM providing java-based and VR technology. IBM has continued to work with Delphi to develop among other telematics products, the Communiport Infotainment PC. Recently, on February 13, 2002 IBM and Delphi confirmed their ongoing relationship in telematics:
IBM Receives Delphi Business For Next-Gen Multi-Media Car Products
Combines IT, Auto Expertise For Full-Fledged Digital Dashboards
ARMONK, NY, and TROY, MI--(INTERNET WIRE)--Feb 13, 2002 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM - news) announced today that Delphi Automotive Systems has chosen IBM's J9(TM) virtual machine environment, as a foundation technology for the development of automobile multimedia products. These products can enable motor vehicles to communicate in real-time with drivers, dealers, manufacturers and others in the industry's value chain.
Delphi will use the IBM J9 virtual machine environment in the design of new mobile multimedia products that include embedded, real-time control systems using full-motion video, speech and voice processing, Internet and Java(TM) technologies to enhance communications and entertainment applications for original equipment vehicles. Products expected to result from the collaboration range from dashboard control features to information, entertainment, navigation and messaging.....
IBM's embedded virtual machine technology has been developed, deployed and refined for more than a dozen years. In August 2001, IBM was the first to develop and distribute the J9 J2ME "Java Powered" environment simultaneously across multiple platforms. The J9 virtual machine environment has proved in independent testing to provide a high-performance, compact environment for running embedded Java applications across a broad range of processors. Complementing the J9 virtual machine, IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition allows developers to quickly and easily create and deploy e-business applications to automotive Telematics devices, hand-held computers, PDA's and cellular telephones. More information is available at www.ibm.com/embedded.
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM is among the first companies to offer leading-edge technology and tools to its customers and enable them to deliver advanced Telematics Solutions. Through years of expertise and research in the Automotive industry, IBM and IBM Business Partners have built a flexible and reliable portfolio of software (such as speech recognition and wireless technologies), hardware, IT services, development platforms and innovative tools. Our end-to-end architecture fully integrates open standards. It links both portable and embedded hardware devices to the Internet via wireless networks and leverages Java applications to exchange data to and from the vehicles with Wireless Telematics Service Providers. Addressing issues such as safety, privacy, convenience and connectivity, our in-vehicle information systems and solutions enable our customers to deliver hands-free and eyes-free technology as part of developing invaluable and long-term relationships with their customers. As the Telematics revolution is now gaining momentum in other industries such as Insurance, Petroleum and Commercial market, our vision will prepare our customers for the next generation of e-business infrastructure for many years to come. Please visit our Telematics Solutions site at www.ibm.com/industries/automotive for further details and references.
On October 26, 2001, IBM announced a broad range of new customers, partners and products in its comprehensive strategy to provide voice recognition software for mobile e-business.
New customers and partners span three continents and key targets of IBM's voice business: the automobile industry for telematics, the growing market segment for products and services that deliver wireless voice and data information to vehicles; manufacturers of personal digital assistants and other mobile devices; telephone call centers; and e-businesses of all sizes.
They include major automotive supplier Johnson Controls, which has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice as the speech software for its telematics offerings - including an innovative, voice-enabled communications system that will be deployed by the Chrysler Group.
IBM's voice recognition software relies on open, non-proprietary standards such as VoiceXML and Java, which make it easy to create software for people to access information by voice over the phone and helps businesses integrate disparate systems.
IBM's new customers and partners in telematics:
Plymouth, Mich.-based automotive supplier Johnson Controls has selected IBM as its speech software provider for all of its upcoming telematics offerings to the auto industry. Its first implementation is a voice-enabled mobile communications system for the Chrysler Group. An industry first, the system requires only the push of a button to make a call - all other functions are engaged via voice commnds. It consists of a receiver module behind the dashboard, an embedded microphone in the rear-view mirror, and the driver's own mobile phone. The phone will synchronize with the receiver module to create a wireless connection via Bluetooth technology with the car's audio system. When a call is placed, audio is suspended, and the call comes through the speakers. IBM's software will allow drivers to use spoken commands (in English, French or Spanish) to place calls or access the system's audio address book, customizable by the owner. The system will be available in an aftermarket version in spring 2002 and factory installed in 2003.
Intel is working with IBM's Embedded ViaVoice to support its strategy to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car platform based on Intel® StrongARM and upcoming Intel® XScale processors. Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, the Intel XScale microarchitecture is an ideal microprocessor solution for telematics.
Hitachi, a worldwide provider of car infotainment systems, is supporting IBM's Embedded Via Voice recognition on Hitachi SH-4-based platforms (HARP) for automotive applications. The hardware platforms are designed to run with all major operating systems.
QNX, a provider of operating systems for automobile electronics, has partnered with IBM for voice recognition. The QNX operating system will support the Embedded ViaVoice product for telematics. Embedded ViaVoice runs on both an operating system and a hardware platform to ensure the two interoperate. Voice-enabled telematics applications developed on the QNX operating system are designed to run on major automotive telematics platforms such as Intel, Hitachi and Motorola.
In the handheld computer market:
Legend Computers, the largest computer company in China, has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite in simpilfied Chinese to voice-enable its new handheld computers to be available in Q1 2002. The IBM software will give users a natural alternative to the stylus or keyboard in operating the devices, and the added convenience of being able to listen to rather than read information and messages.
On Oct. 4, Compaq announced it is using IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite to voice-enable its new iPAQ H3800 Pocket PC Series, one of the world's first commercially available handheld computers to let users access and receive information with human speech.
MOTOROLA
On 9/14/99, Motorola announced a relationship with QNX Software Systems Ltd., IBM, and Embedded Planet (formerly RPCG) to develop MobileGT Architecture, initially targeted for automotive driver information systems. MobileGT is an open, Java-centric architecture that can allow automobile manufacturers to easily and cost-effectively develop advanced driver information systems to fit their specific platforms. MobileGT's flexible, modular computing platform is scaleable across a wide range of products, allowing automobile manufacturers to leverage a common development approach while providing product differentiation through tailored and system integration. MobileGT can address a wide array of in-vehicle applications -- dynamic navigation, wireless connectivity and Internet access, natural language speech processing, car audio, virtual dashboards, multimedia and more.
MobileGT also incorporates IBM's VisualAge for Embedded Systems, Java(TM) Technology Edition virtual machine and development tools optimized for use with QNX Neutrino. This proven execution environment supports configuration-based deployment of applications, giving the developers the ability to build ultra-compact runtime components.
In follow-up, on January 14, 2000, IBM and Motorola said they will join to develop technology to help automakers add a variety of wireless and Web-based services automobiles.The companies will focus on telematics which includes communications and navigation capabilities such as real-time traffic routing. It also can include Internet capabilities such as e-mail.
The companies note that because cars move, telematics requires a network connection that is both precise and durable. IBM says it will contribute its expertise in computer hardware, software and network management.
Beyond those generalities, the companies offered few details, other than to say they already were approaching automotive manufacturers about potential products.
IBM/Mot formed a platform called MobileGT, an easily upgradable computer that can accept peripherals like cell phones, PDAs and other gear that might be used in cars. http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20000211S0057
With the coming of AMIC [the Automotive Multimedia Interface Consortium], the industry said it wanted Java, and that became a central theme for our group."
In March, 2000, IBM and Motorola announced plans to join forces to help meet the growing demand for e-businesses worldwide to link data and applications to wireless devices. The companies announced their intent to jointly develop an open, highly scalable offering that will form the basis of a "voice and data engine" which will offer businesses an easy way to develop and access wireless applications and services. For example, carriers could use this offering to allow businesses to provide mobile workers real-time access to email, stock quotes, news, and corporate resources via wireless devices. By combining Motorola's device-aware front-end technology with IBM's middleware technology, this framework will provide optimal wireless data services to businesses around the world.
Mark Bregman, general manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing Division said "Working together with Motorola we will get to market faster with a product that operators need to give their business subscribers what they crave - access to information and services, virtually anytime, anywhere." This relationship builds on the existing collaboration between IBM and Motorola to enable the delivery of innovative new telematics products. In January, the companies announced that they would work together to provide the end-to-end resources to help car manufacturers offer exciting new wireless services to their customers. The agreement builds on the strong position of Motorola's Integrated Electronic Systems Sector (IESS) group with IBM's systems and services expertise.
On January 9, 2001, Motorola announced that it will license Java technology and voice recognition software from IBM, for use in the Motorola Telematics iRadio™ system. The Motorola iRadio™ system is a complete solution that offers a packaged multimedia functionality, which can be accessed at home, in the car and on the individual mobile devices. The Java-based platform allows the product to access personalised, location-based services, real time traffic information, dynamic off-board navigation, music-on- demand, eCommerce options and email. With speech recognition and additional features, Motorola's iRadio system delivers information, communications and entertainment to the car without diverting the driver's attention. Motorola's iRadio offers the latest user interfaces and applications and IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition Java technology. A key feature of IBM's Java technology is that it enables new applications and services to be added and enhanced remotely without inconveniencing consumers.
Motorola is also using IBM Embedded ViaVoice Multiplatform Edition for voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities.
IBM's ViaVoice enables drivers to use voice commands, as an alternative input to faceplate controls, for accessing information such as weather, news and sports, select a favorite radio station or other iRadio system applications.
INTEL
At the same time IBM and Motorola announced its telematics relationship, so did IBM and Intel; Motorola said it would support the IBM/Intel work. On 1/25/00 Intel and IBM announced they are collaborating on in-car computing products that will enable automakers to provide wireless and Web-based services such as navigation, communication, and information. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the in-vehicle information systems. The software suite includes IBM's VisualAge MicroEdition, which incorporates embedded Java, as well as voice-recognition and text-to-speech functions. This software is used, along with interfaces to the vehicle, to communicate information to the driver and the outside world via the Internet. The companies said Motorola Inc. will also support the venture.
IBM and Intel officials said the partnership won't compete with carmakers or auto suppliers developing technology to create Web-enabled vehicles. In fact, they're potential customers. "Automakers and their suppliers are our partners," said Walt Davison, IBM's marketing executive for the automotive industry. "We're not competing with them; we're doing what we do best to help them do what they do best." IBM expects automakers to start offering vehicles with in-car computing systems next year. "The earliest consumers will see vehicles with in-car computing systems on the road will be in 18 months," Desai said.
http://detnews.com/2000/technology/0002/10/02100040.htm
IBM claims: Automotive pervasive computing is a reality -- where people use ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech software to interact with their automobiles the same way that they interact with their computers. IBM is working with automobile manufacturers so that drivers can run diagnostics from the road, search the Internet for a stock price and even make a service appointment with the manufacturer simply by speaking to their e-mail.
In July 2000, IBM announced that engineers and developers can now deploy connected Java language-based solutions across a wider array of embedded targets using IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition tools, class libraries and virtual machines. While VisualAge Micro Edition remains optimized for QNX's Neutrino real-time operating system, IBM has also added support for the iTRON industrial real time operating system and Microsoft Windows CE in response to customer requests.(Regarding iTron, see this 1/01 Redhat PR re DELPHI: "Red Hat eCos (Embedded Configurable Operating System) will be used in several Telematics products and has been selected for Delphi's recently announced "Mobile Productivity Center" (MPC), which is a platform for users of PDA's and Cellular phones. The Delphi MPC allows for hands-free operation of personal electronics like PDAs, along with seamless interface with popular cellular phones.... Delphi came to us with specific requirements that included a Linux application interface and uITRON API compatibility, and we were able to quickly leverage our extensive technical expertise to deliver a cost-effective, single solution that we believe will meet their needs." (IBM is a strong supporter of Linux.)http://www.redhat.com/about/presscenter/2001/press_delphi.html.
"Engineering decisions in the connected post-PC world must focus on customer choice. From the start, IBM designed and built VisualAge Micro Edition for portability and compatibility with published specifications," said Skip McGaughey, IBM director of embedded systems sales and marketing. "As our customers have approached us for new CPU, RTOS and development platform support, we have responded quickly, thanks to our investment in innovation and advanced technology."
Pervasive computing projects will require client and server components that run on multiple embedded targets.
Support for the ARM processor architectures is now included in VisualAge Micro Edition. This includes StrongARM SA-110 and SA-1110 processors and development reference boards from Intel.
On 10/16/00, Intel announced plans to collaborate with IBM* to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car client platform for the expanding Telematics market segment. This collaboration will speed up the delivery of a complete set of Telematics client reference kits supporting the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture. These kits will enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce their time to market and create leading-edge wireless applications. IBM's popular VisualAge® Micro Edition Java™ application development tools and deployment technologies allow developers to quickly and easily leverage existing applications for e-Business.
Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Examples of in-car computing devices and services include navigation systems, emergency roadside assistance, and an array of entertainment applications and services.
Intel's support of IBM's embedded Java application development environment, Java class libraries and the J9 virtual machine for Intel's Xscale microarchitecture reference platforms provides Telematics developers and OEMs with a highly portable and reusable platform. "We are pleased to provide the burgeoning Telematics application development industry and OEMs with what are arguably the strongest wireless building blocks in the industry," said Pat Kerrigan, marketing manager at Intel's In-Car Computing Operation.
"Automotive computing is an important and growing market segment that both Intel and IBM serve with advanced technology and products," said Skip McGaughey, director of marketing and sales for IBM's OTI embedded system group. "With this announcement, IBM takes the important step to broaden VisualAge Micro Edition to embrace Intel's Xscale microarchitecture. www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/converge.htm.
From the 11/00 interview with Intel's Ron Smith, VP of wireless:
KAREN LAKE: Talk to us about the Internet being accessible from the car and where that's going. Is that in your department?
RON SMITH: Yes, that is actually in my department because by definition if you're going to have access from a car, it needs to be wireless and it is in a wide area network because you're not going to be driving your car inside a building. You're going to be driving your car out on the highway.
This is a real exciting area. There are a lot of new things that are going on here. They have already crafted a name for this called telematics. Don't ask me the origin of that name because I don't know.
KAREN LAKE: Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular, voice and Internet services in vehicles. I interrupted you. Please keep going.
RON SMITH: That's right, it's in vehicles. It started out with these emergency services like OnStar, which is actually a call back, a voice service. But now people want to move toward more information services to bring the same kind of capability, Internet access, the location-based services, and so on, to a vehicle. We are actively engaged in that. In fact, just recently we announced a relationship with IBM with their VisualAge capability to help bring some more of that software interface directly to these kinds of devices. We have a number of things going on with a number of manufacturers. Of course, none of them are public yet so I can't really talk about them.{GUESS INTEL IS EVEN SUBJECT TO NDAS!}
KAREN LAKE: Is there really any difference in the technology from a car vs. a PDA vs. a cellular phone? Are they all just adaptations of each other?
RON SMITH: They're all just adaptations of each other. You have the same kinds of requirements. You have to be able to maintain the data when the power goes off.
KAREN LAKE: And that's the Flash memory thing.
RON SMITH: Right. So, you need a Flash memory. You want a low power environment with relatively high performance like you'd get with our XScale microarchitecture. In a battery-operated device, it's pretty obviously needed because you can't drain the battery in a car. You don't want to be draining the car battery, but there are a lot more Amp hours, if you will, in a car battery. But if you're going to store it in a dashboard of a car, you have a lot of space constraints. You can't afford to have cooling hardware associated with that because it's going to be packed into a dashboard with all kinds of other things. So it amounts to the same kind of technology requirements.
CONCLUSION: It is undisputable that IBM and Intel are working together in the telematics arena using a Java-based platform and that Intel and IBM together are working with Motorola in support of Motorola's MobileGT architecture which is Java-centric.
On April 11, 2001, Intel Corporation announced that leading in-car computing software platform vendors are delivering support for the Intel StrongARM processor and future processors based on the Intel XScale microarchitecture. Microsoft Corp., IBM, QNX Software Systems Ltd., Wind River Systems, Inc., Fonix Corporation and Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. are supporting the Intel StrongARM and Intel XScale microarchitectures to enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce "time-to-market" and create sophisticated in-car, voice-enabled wireless applications.
The core software platform recipe for devices in the in-car computing, or telematics, market segment consists of open, scaleable software platforms, extensible and comprehensive development tools and such key complementary technologies -as speech recognition. These combined elements are necessary to deliver adaptable, scaleable telematics devices that will enable and enhance applications and services for the automotive industry. "Our customers asked for each of these solutions by name," said Pat Kerrigan, director for Intel's In-Car Computing Operation. "We feel we have secured industry-wide support from key players to maximize the benefits of the Intel® Personal Internet Client Architecture and to provide our mutual customers with the best telematics development platforms available."
Interview: Wavemakers
Vincent Lau speaks to Richard Sones, Director, Sales and Marketing (2/18/2002)
Wavemakers develops voice optimization software that improves the accuracy and performance of voice user interfaces driving telematics systems, PDAs, PCs, tablets and consumer electronics. Wavemakers' Audio Intelligence(tm) system focuses on enhancing and reconstructing speech and has been proven to reduce the error rate of speech recognition systems by as much as 85%.
Wavemakers offers a suite of software solutions (ClearStream, VoiceTrigger, WaveBeam and EchoBlock), as well as voice system expertise and experience, for acoustical environments, microphones, ASR's and wireless communications. The company is a third-party developer for the Intel® StrongARM® processing platform, a member of the Intel PCA Developer Network and is Texas Instruments eXpress DSP(tm) compliant.
What is the vision of Wavemakers?
Our vision is that in the near future, using a computer voice user interface will feel as natural as speaking to another person. As users, our expectations are high so there are quite a number of components that need to come together to reach this goal. Wavemakers’ component is what we would call the front end of a speech interface. This is for everything from an acoustical environment to echo cancellation to microphones to the front end of an ASR engine.
How do you see this vision applied in the telematic space?
The telematic space is of course a very exciting area and one that we have worked in for several years. From an acoustical perspective, these are very complex environments and are likely to become even more complex. To start, there are a large variety of noisy situations and environments. In addition to that, there are the specifics of the cabin space and, going forward, more and more electronic devices. So to say the least, we are very excited about the value that our expertise and experience can bring to these challenges.
Can you give me an overview of the technology?
Sure. Our technology is grounded around an understanding of what is unique about human speech. For example, if you or I were to go to Japan or Russia we would probably not understand what people are saying but we would be able to recognize that it is human speech. Our software works in a similar way; it can recognize what is important and what is not important, all in real time processing. As a second step, we enhance this signal by removing the noise and, more importantly, by reconstructing and enhancing what has been masked or lost due to noise. Then, as a last step, we optimize the speech for a specific speech engine or for human listening.
How is this technology different from your competitors?
There are number of things that give us a good advantage. The first one is that we started out from the very beginning to solve the problem of improving machine listening, or, ASR accuracy. This is important as accuracy is a much harder problem to solve than just making the voice signal sound better to the human ear (which Wavemakers now does as well). Second, as I mentioned earlier, is that we are able to reconstruct speech that is lost due to noise, even with single microphone input, and we do it in away that improves speech recognition accuracy. The third reason would be the strength of the team that we have assembled. Approximately 50% of our staff has a Masters degree or PhD, as well as a variety of backgrounds. In the end it means we have the expertise and experience to bring the best solution possible to the customer.
What do you mean by “targeted speech”?
Targeted speech is something that you and I have learned to do very naturally. Specifically, it means listening to one person in the context of other people’s voices. An example of this in an automotive environment is where the driver is speaking and does not want the voices from the backseat or passenger seat to disrupt the system or his or her communications. We have been awarded a $4.4 million investment to accelerate our work in solving exactly this problem. The program has well defined milestones that will allow us to commercialize our technology along the path towards the end goal – Targeted Speech.
What are the current product offerings?
Our Waveware suite of products consists of 3 modules centered around ClearStream™, our core software module. They are VoiceTrigger™, a sophisticated voice activity detection algorithm; EchoBlock™, an acoustical and line-echo cancellation software that is optimized for speech recognition; and finally, WaveBeam™, which is our multi-element technology that takes advantage of the extra information that is available when using more than one microphone.
So the space you compete in is not so much as speech recognition as it is speech enhancement and noise/echo cancellation?
That’s right. We optimize the performance of speech recognition systems. To date we have worked with over 12 different speech recognition engines and have been proven to reduce the error rate of these speech recognition systems by as much as 85%.
Which Voice Recognition systems have you conducted tests with?
Some companies have several different engines. The list would include companies like IBM, Philips, ART, L&H, Dragon, Conversay, Microsoft, Nuance and Speechworks. The interesting thing is that they are all different. Each engine has its own strengths and weaknesses and each of them requires a different optimized input signal in order to be optimized for accuracy.
What type of customers do you seek? Do you have any now?
We tend to work with companies that are creating the end product; this tends to be the tier 1-type companies in the automotive space. An example of this would be our work with Johnson Controls. As a core technology company our goal is to work with a small number of strategic partners that can use our technology and expertise to provide a better product and ultimately differentiate their products in the market.
Can you tell me more about the recent partnership with Johnson Controls?
We are providing both speech system expertise as well as our full Waveware suite of software. The end product is Johnson Controls’ voice controlled Bluetooth wireless-networking solutions and is a concert effort of a number of companies such as Intel, Gentex, IBM, and QNX.
What are some of the technological and business barriers you consider for a successful speech system?
That is a very interesting question and I presume you mean from a broader perspective of speech in the automotive industry. Technologically, I would say the key is making sure you bring together the right components to solve the problem and then work very clearly within the scope of the available technology but, at the same time, anticipate advancements in the technology every six months.
As for business barriers, there will always be the price point pressures of the systems that will be key. The lower the price the more ubiquitous the products.
How do you expect to overcome these barriers?
On the technical level, we can work together with our strategic partners in the evaluation of technologies and then work hard at integrating and optimizing the different components to yield a robust speech system.
Managing technological advancements in the auto industry is of course is a much broader question. Being a software approach (rather than a hardware approach) does make it easier for us to adapt our technology and bring it up to date, but the broader processes need to be in place.
In terms of cost, our value proposition is exactly that: better performance and lower cost. As we have seen in so many other industries, replacing hardware with software components results in lower overall system costs.
What is your prediction on how the speech technology industry will evolve in the short & long term?
I think it truly is an exciting time for speech as a user interface and it will definitely become a widespread reality sooner rather than later. The main reason for this is that technological advances are coming quicker and cost per MIP is dropping - a very exciting convergence. The industry will definitely grow with this and I think we will see further consolidations.
Recently, e.Digital made public for the first time a design win in the telematics market.
January 7, 2002- e.Digital Corporation and Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten announced today that the companies have collaborated for several months to develop and deliver state-of-the-art automotive OEM and aftermarket infotainment systems integrating the latest digital audio, voice recognition, data storage, video, and wireless Internet technologies for sale under the Eclipse brand name. This includes integration of onboard cellular phone, GPS, video, and audio into a single voice-controlled automotive system. Technology development will include navigation and control as well as wireless access and integration with home networks."
As many of you know, I have been looking into e.digital's possible involvement in the telematics market for almost two years. I confess and acknowledge that I was surprised by the announcement with Fujitsu Ten. Something you should keep in mind when reading the remainder of this. So is that it, did I miss the boat in my previous ruminations on this topic. I think not but only time will tell--but we are not too far off now.
So if anyone is interested, I have decided to put on my "longtooth" and update some prior ramblings on the topic-- may be even in time for the 2/19/02 edig CC. Recent communications from e.digital's management would suggest in fact that its telematics agenda is becoming one of its important markets.
January 16, 2002
Automotive Business
We were pleased to announce last week an automotive product developed and designed through our collaboration with Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten. The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten automotive product (MP-3 Changer) introduced at CES represents the first automotive system incorporating e.Digital's MicroOS and VoiceNav(TM) technologies. In addition to the design shown at the Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten booth, e.Digital demonstrated an advanced prototype of the product utilizing a beta version of its MicroOS 3.0 which enables music files to be remotely transferred from a PC to the player via 802.11 wireless protocol.
The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten product is the first of several major opportunities for our technology to be included in next-generation automotive infotainment systems. Infotainment systems are part of the automotive telematics market, which is expected to be worth over $1.1 billion in 2002, and projected to grow 16-fold by 2006. (Telematics Research Group). There is significant interest among several automotive electronics manufacturers and suppliers in e.Digital's digital data management and wireless infotainment solutions. Automotive infotainment and telematics applications are expected to generate substantial licensing, NRE fees, and royalties for your Company. Each OEM agreement may also include revenue for manufacturing services, warranty services, marketing, customer service, order fulfillment, and technical support services.
February 11, 2002
Automotive Business
The burgeoning automotive telematics market is a strategic target for our immediate and long-term business expansion. e.Digital technology, including our MicroOSTM file management system and our VoiceNavTM user-independent speech recognition interface, enables automotive OEMs and ODMs to incorporate additional features and successfully meet safety objectives in automotive telematics and infotainment solutions.
Automotive telematics is the wireless exchange or delivery of communication, information, and other content between the auto and/or occupants and external sources....Based on over two years of internal development, and growing interest in our VoiceNav and MicroOS technologies, we are making automotive telematics solutions a primary focus of our OEM and ODM technology development and marketing efforts.
Based on the work we have done and continue to do, we are expanding our business in this area and taking advantage of significant near-term and long-term revenue opportunities available to us. The revenue opportunities from the automotive telematics applications of our products and technologies is potentially far greater than even those from portable consumer devices, both in royalties and margins.
As e.digital has acknowledged, this is not an area of business that it just dreamed up and started a few months back with Fujitsu. I would suggest e.digital's beginnings in this area were an outgrowth of the VoiceTimes' alliance and its previous dealings with Intel and IBM which no doubt led to it being included as an inaugural member of VoiceTimes.
VoiceTimes alliance
April 13, 1999 – e.Digital Corporation along with IBM, Intel and other leaders in speech recognition and mobile technologies today announced at the DemoMobile 99 conference the formation of the Voice Technology Initiative for Mobile Enterprise Solutions (VoiceTIMES)....With the explosive growth of mobile devices and the increasing demand for network access, the VoiceTIMES initiative was formed to define specifications for how voice commands and information are transmitted and received by existing and future mobile devices.
''We believe VoiceTIMES will allow e.Digital to expand development of speech-based mobile information gathering devices and leverage our product designs in to many additional industry solutions.'' (Falk} ''In today's world of pervasive computing, users want simple, fast and hassle free mobile computing devices to connect and communicate.'' said W.S. ''Ozzie'' Osborne, general manager of IBM Speech Systems. ''Through joint collaboration, the VoiceTIMES alliance aims to eliminate complexities for the consumer and solutions integrator, while providing future generations of standard compliant speech-enabled mobile products. VoiceTIMES will allow mobile users to compute — anytime, anywhere.
Q: How does this fit into the mobile industries overall strategy?
A: Just like with VXML, Java and the Internet, VoiceTIMES is driving open standards technology to one day eliminate the complexity of doing business. Through pervasive computing, VoiceTIMES hopes to create an infrastructure to provide open standards for the mobile industry, including telematics.
What VoiceTimes and the concept of pervasive computing should teach you is that you CANNOT look at the concept of telematics in an isolated vacuum apart from the rest of mobile communications. For example, in connection with Voicetimes, in January 1999 IBM performed a focus group market survey regarding 3 voice driven mobile products which results were posted on IBM's Voicetimes website:
Selected Survey Results
Three 'Concepts' were discussed:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
Immediate access to information was PVA/PDA enthusiasts' leading desire for voice-activated usage, while 'being able to contact others' was the leading desire for smartphone users. Most participants agreed that 'hands-free'/'eyes-free' operation was the feature that they found most important. The top four chosen activities were lookups and additions to phone numbers and calendar activities. Translation and web-surfing were the least useful activities studied.
Most participants would prefer to purchase a speech-enabled handheld device from an OEM was the 1st choice, and from e-stores as 2nd choice.
Final Message
Adding voice to PDAs and Smartphones is the next 'natural' step for enhancing smart handheld devices, and it supports the VoiceTIMES vision to expand Voice Technology.
Clearly the "hands-free/eyes-free" killer application is best designed for the telematics market. If you will recall, a few months later Intel announces its own PVA- Personal Veicle Assistant. In fact, over 1 1/2 years ago wtmgyes wrote IBM about VoiceTimes and received the following response:
The products we announced can and will use VoiceTIMES
specification verified devices. VoiceTIMES is the initiative to create open specifications for mobile devices. The specifications that VoiceTIMES is currently working on and will be working on in the future will be used to access the mobile Internet through our software.
Perfect examples are our voice-enabled automotive solution and the PVA. Both solutions use the VoiceTIMES specification for their internet access devices.
Tom Houy
Manager, Client Systems Marketing
IBM Speech Systems
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=364361&x=11&y=7
In connection with writing this post, I came across an article from a German magazine posted on Siemenswebsite which contains the following which I believes exemplifies the concept that telematics will be looked at as one part of mobile communications. (Siemens is an important member of Bluetooth's Special Interest Group (SIG), a collection of wireless telecommunications and computing leaders. This group was founded in 1998 by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba to create a global specification for short-range, wireless connectivity. Here's the excerpt:
"What, then, might a normal working day look like once the promise of third-generation mobile communications has been fulfilled? Over breakfast, you might take in the latest news from the Internet on your e-book. Meanwhile, your personal digital assistant (PDA)—a UMTS terminal—coordinates the family rota for the coffee machine. With time running short, you send back unread articles to the PDA, which saves them for later. You then leave the house, having instructed the terminal to lock the door.
Once in the garage, the PDA automatically transmits your id, unlocks the vehicle and immediately consults your diary in order to work out the best route. Out on the road, it's time for a little music. So you whistle a melody into your PDA, which immediately begins an Internet search for an appropriate piece of music. At the same time, it puts through an important call from a colleague at work.
Having arrived at the office, the terminal checks for any extra appointments with the computer at your desk. It turns out you have a new customer. Naturally, electronic business cards are automatically exchanged during the first conversation. Meanwhile, a video conference organized by your PDA with engineers in France helps you to clear up a technical problem.
In this way, the working day proceeds smoothly, periodically interrupted by WAP sport and market news. By the time you're ready to leave the office, the terminal has already brought your diary up to date and booked a table at your favorite restaurant. As you head for the allotted table, a discrete tone in your breast pocket announces that the PDA has received the menu. Should you decide to activate your terminal, your favorite dish will appear at the top of the list of those on offer.
Later, as you approach your car to drive home, the vehicle door opens automatically, your favorite radio station comes on and the seat adjusts to your ideal position. Any e-mails received are read out, and the answering machine back home is checked for messages. All this could one day be possible thanks to the Voicetimes project, which enables the information terminal to handle speech in three ways: A speaker-recognition function protects the equipment against unauthorized use, just like a pin code. Voice synthesis allows information to be conveyed in the form of speech—for example, a traffic warning to drivers. Finally, speech recognition makes the keyboard redundant.
When you arrive back home, the door opens and the latest news from your favorite electronic newspaper appears on a screen. While you are reading, the coffee machine goes into action and notes important messages for the rest of the family via a Bluetooth interface.
By way of relaxation, the terminal then shows you the latest edition of new world, which contains an article describing how the fourth generation of communications technology is going to revolutionize your life.
Depending on your viewpoint, you will be left feeling elated or depressed. Ultimately, there are many missing links in the scenario sketched above—not least a description of the software that will manage the availability of your UMTS terminal while simultaneously guarding your private sphere. Moreover, the role of the automobile and the office may change radically if numerous members of the Car2Net generation decide they want to telework from home. But one thing is certain: the scenario is generally correct. Are you starting to feel your age? If so, it may well be a sign that "the times they are a-changin'.""
e.Digital's pre-VoiceTimes involvement and beyond
Prior to the formation of VoiceTimes, in August 1998, e.digital announced that it had signed an agreement to design and develop a digital voice recorder for Intel Corporation. 6/28/99 Falk newsletter: Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
In July, 1999, a S.D. newspaper article gives some inkling about the edig/intel project:
e.Digital
POWAY -- Someday soon, people may be able to harvest news articles, e-mail and other bits of text off the Internet and listen as this information is read aloud from portable devices.
The first steps toward that ambitious goal are happening here, inside the offices of e.Digital Corp. Giant chipmaker Intel is paying the Lilliputian Poway company for research and development costs aimed at making new speech-to-text, text-to-speech gizmos. The project, which began last year but stalled when the companies dumped a third-party technology partner in favor of another unnamed firm, remains hush-hush. The companies won't even reveal drawings of what the device looks like.
Still, Skip Matthews, a senior project development manager for Intel's Memory Components Division, coyly hinted at the project's capabilities. "What if you had a device that could read The Wall Street Journal to you while you're in your car?" he said, declining to elaborate.
8/1/99 Dr. Matthews joins e.Digital's Board upon retirement from a distinguished 25-year career with Intel Corporation with his last position being Senior Project Development Manager. "I was attracted to e.Digital because they were the first to adopt flash memory in an audio recorder. There is great potential for further application of e.Digital's technology in Internet music players and even more advanced audio applications such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems."
8/30/99 Falk newsletter update: We are continuing to make significant progress on the Intel voice recorder prototypes with the project taking some interesting new turns into areas of new technology development that we expect will be very beneficial to e.Digital. We remain on track with IBM, Intel, Philips and our other VoiceTIMES Alliance partners in setting new protocols for voice recording in portable digital devices. [NB: Note the use of plural "prototypes". Clearly there is more than one type of device being developed as made clearer in Falk's 9/30/99 update when he refers to "new OEM relationships". Also note the reference to Philips who at the time of the formation of VoiceTimes alliance licensed IBM's TTS technology for use in future products.]
To this date we have not heard any news regarding e.Digital's 1998 project with Intel or the prototypes created therefrom. Is the project dead and buried? Should we just forget about it and move on? What do we know? It is my SPECULATION that the Intel project involved at least two different projects: the initial project involving VR for a PDA/recorder and the new turn being VR integration into a telematics system. What little facts that we do know is that e.digital had completed its work on the project sometime in 2000, a number of other companies were involved, but edig thought there would be a public announcement about it by the end of 2000. In fact no announcement came. Was this just more "RP/FF carrot BS" you believe is the only thing they have perfected? I don't think so for the following reasons.
I have previously contended that one of the 1998 intel/edig projects was part of the following:
Cadillacs to Get Voice-Activated Calling by Year's End
General Motors to embed cellular services in one million 2001 vehicles
By Lee Copeland and Lee Copeland
(Apr. 17, 2000) General Motors Corp. last week accelerated its drive to provide embedded cellular and Web-based services in its vehicles. The Detroit-based automaker said it will offer a Communiport Infotainment PC system developed by Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. in Troy, Mich., in new Cadillacs by the end of this year.
GM officials touted the cellular system as being safer to use while driving than a phone handset. Using a dashboard-based, voice-activated computer, drivers will be able to listen to e-mail messages and make cellular calls. The system is integrated with the vehicle's radio and also features a CD-ROM drive, a navigation system and a voice memo recorder. Drivers would have to forward messages from their existing messaging system to a GM-based account in order to access them from the road.
http://www.computerworld.com/cwi/Printer_Friendly_Version/0,1212,NAV47_STO44447-,00.html
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18295
However, in December 2000, GM decided to delay the implementation of the Infotainment PC option until 2001. To the best of my knowledge, it continues to be on indefinite hold.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18321
What's happened since then? We again need to back up a little bit and review the Intel and IBM involvement in pervasive computing and telematics in general and then specifically.
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67769
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67776
IBM and Telematics
IBM is involved in almost every aspect of telematics, working directly with several major automobile manufacturers and with automotive suppliers including Motorola and ATX. IBM’s products and services include embedded computers, embedded Java, speech and voice recognition products like Via Voice, middleware and infrastructure products including WebSphere Everyplace Suite and WebSphere Everyplace Portal, tools and development environments for content and application providers, and hosted portals and services. Among the many telematics activities currently being pursued by automakers and others, IBM is participating in:
· DaimlerChrysler Services/Mobility Management, which provides topical tips for travelers about movies, shows, the arts and dining in the areas they visit, along with navigation aids and parking data.
· ATX’s interactive voice recognition/speech response technology, which uses IBM’s Direct Talk voice processing platform and ViaVoice speech recognition technology.
· PSA Peugeot Citroen’s prototype networked car based on Xsara Picasso, Citroen’s intelligent automotive application.
· Projects with DaimlerChrysler, Motorola, Intel and PSA Peugeot Citroen, all of which are using IBM’s VisualAge Micro Edition embedded Java 2 technology.
· Myautogarage.com from ADP, a Web-based service linking dealers with motorists for easier and faster maintenance and management of their vehicles, which is powered by IBM.
· Motorola’s iRadio offering, which uses a variety of IBM products and services to deliver e-mail and custom entertainment options to automobiles through Motorola cell phone technology.
[This is taken from a May 2001 article written by Raj Desai Director, IBM Worldwide Telematics Solutions. I highly recommend reading the full article: http://www.ebizchronicle.com/columns01/may/telematics.htm.
DELPHI
In 1998, a PR announced that IBM was working with Delphi and SunMicrosytems to develop a "network vehicle" with IBM providing java-based and VR technology. IBM has continued to work with Delphi to develop among other telematics products, the Communiport Infotainment PC. Recently, on February 13, 2002 IBM and Delphi confirmed their ongoing relationship in telematics:
IBM Receives Delphi Business For Next-Gen Multi-Media Car Products
Combines IT, Auto Expertise For Full-Fledged Digital Dashboards
ARMONK, NY, and TROY, MI--(INTERNET WIRE)--Feb 13, 2002 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM - news) announced today that Delphi Automotive Systems has chosen IBM's J9(TM) virtual machine environment, as a foundation technology for the development of automobile multimedia products. These products can enable motor vehicles to communicate in real-time with drivers, dealers, manufacturers and others in the industry's value chain.
Delphi will use the IBM J9 virtual machine environment in the design of new mobile multimedia products that include embedded, real-time control systems using full-motion video, speech and voice processing, Internet and Java(TM) technologies to enhance communications and entertainment applications for original equipment vehicles. Products expected to result from the collaboration range from dashboard control features to information, entertainment, navigation and messaging.....
IBM's embedded virtual machine technology has been developed, deployed and refined for more than a dozen years. In August 2001, IBM was the first to develop and distribute the J9 J2ME "Java Powered" environment simultaneously across multiple platforms. The J9 virtual machine environment has proved in independent testing to provide a high-performance, compact environment for running embedded Java applications across a broad range of processors. Complementing the J9 virtual machine, IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition allows developers to quickly and easily create and deploy e-business applications to automotive Telematics devices, hand-held computers, PDA's and cellular telephones. More information is available at www.ibm.com/embedded.
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM is among the first companies to offer leading-edge technology and tools to its customers and enable them to deliver advanced Telematics Solutions. Through years of expertise and research in the Automotive industry, IBM and IBM Business Partners have built a flexible and reliable portfolio of software (such as speech recognition and wireless technologies), hardware, IT services, development platforms and innovative tools. Our end-to-end architecture fully integrates open standards. It links both portable and embedded hardware devices to the Internet via wireless networks and leverages Java applications to exchange data to and from the vehicles with Wireless Telematics Service Providers. Addressing issues such as safety, privacy, convenience and connectivity, our in-vehicle information systems and solutions enable our customers to deliver hands-free and eyes-free technology as part of developing invaluable and long-term relationships with their customers. As the Telematics revolution is now gaining momentum in other industries such as Insurance, Petroleum and Commercial market, our vision will prepare our customers for the next generation of e-business infrastructure for many years to come. Please visit our Telematics Solutions site at www.ibm.com/industries/automotive for further details and references.
On October 26, 2001, IBM announced a broad range of new customers, partners and products in its comprehensive strategy to provide voice recognition software for mobile e-business.
New customers and partners span three continents and key targets of IBM's voice business: the automobile industry for telematics, the growing market segment for products and services that deliver wireless voice and data information to vehicles; manufacturers of personal digital assistants and other mobile devices; telephone call centers; and e-businesses of all sizes.
They include major automotive supplier Johnson Controls, which has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice as the speech software for its telematics offerings - including an innovative, voice-enabled communications system that will be deployed by the Chrysler Group.
IBM's voice recognition software relies on open, non-proprietary standards such as VoiceXML and Java, which make it easy to create software for people to access information by voice over the phone and helps businesses integrate disparate systems.
IBM's new customers and partners in telematics:
Plymouth, Mich.-based automotive supplier Johnson Controls has selected IBM as its speech software provider for all of its upcoming telematics offerings to the auto industry. Its first implementation is a voice-enabled mobile communications system for the Chrysler Group. An industry first, the system requires only the push of a button to make a call - all other functions are engaged via voice commnds. It consists of a receiver module behind the dashboard, an embedded microphone in the rear-view mirror, and the driver's own mobile phone. The phone will synchronize with the receiver module to create a wireless connection via Bluetooth technology with the car's audio system. When a call is placed, audio is suspended, and the call comes through the speakers. IBM's software will allow drivers to use spoken commands (in English, French or Spanish) to place calls or access the system's audio address book, customizable by the owner. The system will be available in an aftermarket version in spring 2002 and factory installed in 2003.
Intel is working with IBM's Embedded ViaVoice to support its strategy to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car platform based on Intel® StrongARM and upcoming Intel® XScale processors. Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, the Intel XScale microarchitecture is an ideal microprocessor solution for telematics.
Hitachi, a worldwide provider of car infotainment systems, is supporting IBM's Embedded Via Voice recognition on Hitachi SH-4-based platforms (HARP) for automotive applications. The hardware platforms are designed to run with all major operating systems.
QNX, a provider of operating systems for automobile electronics, has partnered with IBM for voice recognition. The QNX operating system will support the Embedded ViaVoice product for telematics. Embedded ViaVoice runs on both an operating system and a hardware platform to ensure the two interoperate. Voice-enabled telematics applications developed on the QNX operating system are designed to run on major automotive telematics platforms such as Intel, Hitachi and Motorola.
In the handheld computer market:
Legend Computers, the largest computer company in China, has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite in simpilfied Chinese to voice-enable its new handheld computers to be available in Q1 2002. The IBM software will give users a natural alternative to the stylus or keyboard in operating the devices, and the added convenience of being able to listen to rather than read information and messages.
On Oct. 4, Compaq announced it is using IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite to voice-enable its new iPAQ H3800 Pocket PC Series, one of the world's first commercially available handheld computers to let users access and receive information with human speech.
MOTOROLA
On 9/14/99, Motorola announced a relationship with QNX Software Systems Ltd., IBM, and Embedded Planet (formerly RPCG) to develop MobileGT Architecture, initially targeted for automotive driver information systems. MobileGT is an open, Java-centric architecture that can allow automobile manufacturers to easily and cost-effectively develop advanced driver information systems to fit their specific platforms. MobileGT's flexible, modular computing platform is scaleable across a wide range of products, allowing automobile manufacturers to leverage a common development approach while providing product differentiation through tailored and system integration. MobileGT can address a wide array of in-vehicle applications -- dynamic navigation, wireless connectivity and Internet access, natural language speech processing, car audio, virtual dashboards, multimedia and more.
MobileGT also incorporates IBM's VisualAge for Embedded Systems, Java(TM) Technology Edition virtual machine and development tools optimized for use with QNX Neutrino. This proven execution environment supports configuration-based deployment of applications, giving the developers the ability to build ultra-compact runtime components.
In follow-up, on January 14, 2000, IBM and Motorola said they will join to develop technology to help automakers add a variety of wireless and Web-based services automobiles.The companies will focus on telematics which includes communications and navigation capabilities such as real-time traffic routing. It also can include Internet capabilities such as e-mail.
The companies note that because cars move, telematics requires a network connection that is both precise and durable. IBM says it will contribute its expertise in computer hardware, software and network management.
Beyond those generalities, the companies offered few details, other than to say they already were approaching automotive manufacturers about potential products.
IBM/Mot formed a platform called MobileGT, an easily upgradable computer that can accept peripherals like cell phones, PDAs and other gear that might be used in cars. http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20000211S0057
With the coming of AMIC [the Automotive Multimedia Interface Consortium], the industry said it wanted Java, and that became a central theme for our group."
In March, 2000, IBM and Motorola announced plans to join forces to help meet the growing demand for e-businesses worldwide to link data and applications to wireless devices. The companies today announced their intent to jointly develop an open, highly scalable offering that will form the basis of a "voice and data engine" which will offer businesses an easy way to develop and access wireless applications and services.
For example, carriers could use this offering to allow businesses to provide mobile workers real-time access to email, stock quotes, news, and corporate resources via wireless devices. By combining Motorola's device-aware front-end technology with IBM's middleware technology, this framework will provide optimal wireless data services to businesses around the world.
Mark Bregman, general manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing Division said "Working together with Motorola we will get to market faster with a product that operators need to give their business subscribers what they crave - access to information and services, virtually anytime, anywhere."
This relationship builds on the existing collaboration between IBM and Motorola to enable the delivery of innovative new telematics products. In January, the companies announced that they would work together to provide the end-to-end resources to help car manufacturers offer exciting new wireless services to their customers. The agreement builds on the strong position of Motorola's Integrated Electronic Systems Sector (IESS) group with IBM's systems and services expertise.
On January 9, 2001, Motorola announced that it will license Java technology and voice recognition software from IBM, for use in the Motorola Telematics iRadio™ system. The Motorola iRadio™ system is a complete solution that offers a packaged multimedia functionality, which can be accessed at home, in the car and on the individual mobile devices. The Java-based platform allows the product to access personalised, location-based services, real time traffic information, dynamic off-board navigation, music-on- demand, eCommerce options and email. With speech recognition and additional features, Motorola's iRadio system delivers information, communications and entertainment to the car without diverting the driver's attention. Motorola's iRadio offers the latest user interfaces and applications and IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition Java technology. A key feature of IBM's Java technology is that it enables new applications and services to be added and enhanced remotely without inconveniencing consumers.
Motorola is also using IBM Embedded ViaVoice Multiplatform Edition for voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities.
IBM's ViaVoice enables drivers to use voice commands, as an alternative input to faceplate controls, for accessing information such as weather, news and sports, select a favorite radio station or other iRadio system applications.
INTEL
At the same time IBM and Motorola announced its telematics relationship, so did IBM and Intel; Motorola said it would support the IBM/Intel work. On 1/25/00 Intel and IBM announced they are collaborating on in-car computing products that will enable automakers to provide wireless and Web-based services such as navigation, communication, and information. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the in-vehicle information systems. The software suite includes IBM's VisualAge MicroEdition, which incorporates embedded Java, as well as voice-recognition and text-to-speech functions. This software is used, along with interfaces to the vehicle, to communicate information to the driver and the outside world via the Internet. The companies said Motorola Inc. will also support the venture.
Intel's role will be to provide extended-temperature versions of the Pentium processor as well as in-car computing reference platforms. The extended-temperature Pentiums will be able to withstand a range of -40 C to +85 C degrees ambient -- the range of temperatures in which automobiles operate.
IBM and Intel officials said the partnership won't compete with carmakers or auto suppliers developing technology to create Web-enabled vehicles. In fact, they're potential customers. "Automakers and their suppliers are our partners," said Walt Davison, IBM's marketing executive for the automotive industry. "We're not competing with them; were doing what we do best to help them do what they do best." IBM expects automakers to start offering vehicles with in-car computing systems next year. "The earliest consumers will see vehicles with in-car computing systems on the road will be in 18 months," Desai said.
http://detnews.com/2000/technology/0002/10/02100040.htm
IBM claims: Automotive pervasive computing is a reality -- where people use ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech software to interact with their automobiles the same way that they interact with their computers. IBM is working with automobile manufacturers so that drivers can run diagnostics from the road, search the Internet for a stock price and even make a service appointment with the manufacturer simply by speaking to their e-mail.
In July 2000, IBM announced that engineers and developers can now deploy connected Java language-based solutions across a wider array of embedded targets using IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition tools, class libraries and virtual machines. While VisualAge Micro Edition remains optimized for QNX's Neutrino real-time operating system, IBM has also added support for the iTRON industrial real time operating system and Microsoft Windows CE in response to customer requests.
"Engineering decisions in the connected post-PC world must focus on customer choice. From the start, IBM designed and built VisualAge Micro Edition for portability and compatibility with published specifications," said Skip McGaughey, IBM director of embedded systems sales and marketing. "As our customers have approached us for new CPU, RTOS and development platform support, we have responded quickly, thanks to our investment in innovation and advanced technology."
Pervasive computing projects will require client and server components that run on multiple embedded targets.
Support for the ARM processor architectures is now included in VisualAge Micro Edition. This includes StrongARM SA-110 and SA-1110 processors and development reference boards from Intel.
On 10/16/00, Intel announced plans to collaborate with IBM* to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car client platform for the expanding Telematics market segment. This collaboration will speed up the delivery of a complete set of Telematics client reference kits supporting the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture. These kits will enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce their time to market and create leading-edge wireless applications. IBM's popular VisualAge® Micro Edition Java™ application development tools and deployment technologies allow developers to quickly and easily leverage existing applications for e-Business.
Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Examples of in-car computing devices and services include navigation systems, emergency roadside assistance, and an array of entertainment applications and services.
Intel's support of IBM's embedded Java application development environment, Java class libraries and the J9 virtual machine for Intel's Xscale microarchitecture reference platforms provides Telematics developers and OEMs with a highly portable and reusable platform. "We are pleased to provide the burgeoning Telematics application development industry and OEMs with what are arguably the strongest wireless building blocks in the industry," said Pat Kerrigan, marketing manager at Intel's In-Car Computing Operation.
"Automotive computing is an important and growing market segment that both Intel and IBM serve with advanced technology and products," said Skip McGaughey, director of marketing and sales for IBM's OTI embedded system group. "With this announcement, IBM takes the important step to broaden VisualAge Micro Edition to embrace Intel's Xscale microarchitecture. www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/converge.htm.
On April 11, 2001, Intel Corporation announced that leading in-car computing software platform vendors are delivering support for the Intel StrongARM processor and future processors based on the Intel XScale microarchitecture. Microsoft Corp., IBM, QNX Software Systems Ltd., Wind River Systems, Inc., Fonix Corporation and Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. are supporting the Intel StrongARM and Intel XScale microarchitectures to enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce "time-to-market" and create sophisticated in-car, voice-enabled wireless applications.
The core software platform recipe for devices in the in-car computing, or telematics, market segment consists of open, scaleable software platforms, extensible and comprehensive development tools and such key complementary technologies -as speech recognition. These combined elements are necessary to deliver adaptable, scaleable telematics devices that will enable and enhance applications and services for the automotive industry. "Our customers asked for each of these solutions by name," said Pat Kerrigan, director for Intel's In-Car Computing Operation. "We feel we have secured industry-wide support from key players to maximize the benefits of the Intel® Personal Internet Client Architecture and to provide our mutual customers with the best telematics development platforms available."