News

Leading Companies Converge to Advance A/V Connectivity through New WirelessHD Interest Group (7/11/2006)

New Special Interest Group Employs 60 GHz Technology for True Uncompressed High-Definition Video/Audio/Data Transmission

LG Electronics Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), NEC Corporation, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, CO., LTD, SiBEAM, Inc., Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation today announced that they are working as a special interest group called WirelessHD to develop a specification for a wireless high-definition digital interface (WirelessHD(tm) or WiHD(tm)), that is intended to enable high-definition audio video (A/V) streaming and high-speed content transmission for consumer electronics (CE) devices. In addition to actively promoting the new format throughout the industry, WirelessHD will present the format available for adoption as soon as the specifications are completed, in Spring 2007.

The migration to high-definition content along with the proliferation of digital source devices has intensified consumers' desire to simply and flexibly connect to highest quality, high-definition displays and consumer electronics systems. In-Stat notes that global sales of devices with a high-speed digital A/V interface is expected to grow from 60M units in 2006 to 495M units in 2009.

"Emerging as the first consumer electronics industry initiative for wireless uncompressed digital video transmission, WirelessHD will provide consumers wireless flexibility and ease of use while preserving the benefits traditionally associated with popular wired alternatives for point-to-point display, such as HDMI and DVI," said Brian O'Rourke, a Senior Analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "The data rates (or bandwidth) that WirelessHD will support are truly impressive."

WirelessHD, which intends to specify the unlicensed, globally available 60 GHz frequency band, will enable wireless uncompressed high-definition, high-quality video and data transmission and is first targeted to be built into HDTV's as well as a wide range of audio video (A/V) devices, both fixed location and portable.

"The availability of high-definition wireless connections stands to eliminate the morass of cables, switches and other complexities traditionally needed to support the wide variety of devices consumers have and will continue to buy, such as HDTVs, HD disc players, digital video cameras and game consoles. With high-definition wireless links, media streaming and transmission from any source to any display or recorder is dramatically simplified by removing the need for a hard-wired connection. WirelessHD will provide a high-speed wireless digital interface that will enable customers to simply connect, play, transmit and port their HD content in a secure manner," stated John Marshall, Chairman of WirelessHD.

The participants' commencement of WirelessHD relates to acknowledgement that industry support is critical. In addition, commencement of WirelessHD relates to the recent availability of several new technologies that make it possible to achieve the multi-gigabit data rates required for uncompressed video streaming. Such breakthroughs enable low cost, better image quality, and higher performance wireless A/V systems. The key characteristics and focal technologies include:

* High interoperability supported by major CE device manufacturers * Uncompressed HD video, audio and data transmission, scaleable to future high-definition A/V formats * High-speed wireless, multi-gigabit technology in the unlicensed 60 GHz band * Smart antenna technology to overcome line-of-sight constraints of 60 GHz * Secure communications * Device control for simple operation of consumer electronics products * Error protection, framing and timing control techniques for a quality consumer experience

"After its launch, WirelessHD has great potential to be adopted rapidly in the consumer electronics segment. WirelessHD should first appear in adapter products, followed by digital televisions and projectors, DVD players, and set-top boxes. Other potential markets include game consoles and portable devices," said O'Rourke of In-Stat/MDR.

The convergence of these industry leaders with a common application focus, accompanied by the latest advances in wireless technology and available spectrum, represents a unique opportunity for the industry that stands to change the way consumers access and manage high-definition digital content today and tomorrow. In the development of this industry initiative, WirelessHD looks to build momentum at this time by issuing a call for additional interest.

www.WirelessHD.org