News

CEA Issues Wireless Device Recommended Practice Document For Comment (28/9/2004)

Offers Simple Transmitter Deactivation, Common Symbol And Uniform Terminology

The Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) Working Group released a draft version of its industry Recommended Practice - Status Indicator for and Control of Transmitters in Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs). The draft is available for review and comment by all interested parties through September 27, 2004. The Recommended Practice seeks to unify the means by which wireless transmitters on portable devices are disabled and then visually designated as off.

The Recommended Practice applies to all wireless consumer electronics products, including mobile phones, PDAs and notebook computers, and is relevant to the use of devices in environments such as on board commercial aircraft, where wireless transmissions are currently restricted or not allowed. The CEA PEDs Working Group document offers a simplified enabling mechanism for switching off the radio transmitters in wireless devices; a consistent and easily identifiable symbol representing "transmitters disabled"; and associated terminology. The document also includes recommendations to outside groups, including manufacturers of wireless accessories and peripherals.

"Device manufacturers, airlines, pilots, and flight attendants have come together to develop these voluntary recommended guidelines to facilitate the on-off control of transmitters inside wireless devices," said Jeffrey Schiffer, CEA PEDs Working Group chair and special programs manager with Intel Corporation's Communications Technology Lab. "The swift cross-industry collaboration by the working group speaks volumes about the desire to make it easier for consumers to turn off all transmitters in wireless devices when needed and then clearly demonstrate the 'transmitters disabled' state through a common, easily recognizable and industry-accepted symbol. This is particularly relevant when consumers are traveling by air."

The Recommended Practice is intended for use by portable electronic device manufacturers, related component and software companies and the air transport industry. The Recommended Practice may have application in a variety of other areas unrelated to the use of wireless devices aboard aircraft, including scenarios where the use of devices is permitted but wireless transmitters are not.

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