AMI-C, 1394 Trade Association Set Wide Ranging Cooperative Agreement on New In-Vehicle Specifications

    DALLAS & BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich.--Oct. 22, 2002-- The Automotive Multimedia Interface Collaboration (AMI-C) and the 1394 Trade Association today signed a cooperative agreement designed to coordinate and synchronize the development of new automotive specifications for mobile information and entertainment systems operating over 1394 Automotive networks.
    "The cooperative agreement will speed the availability of 1394 specifications that meet rigorous automotive requirements and work within the AMI-C architectural framework," said AMI-C Program Manager Pom Malhotra.
    This new memorandum of understanding is designed to assure the alignment of 1394 Trade Association programs, processes and automotive networking programs with the related processes, specifications and requirements established by AMI-C.
    Specifically, the agreement calls on each organization to provide copies of draft specifications for review and comment as early as possible in the development and review cycle. The two groups also will establish a coordinated calendar to identify anticipated release and demonstration dates, so each group can plan effectively. AMI-C and the 1394 TA will establish a schedule of specification coordination meetings to exchange information, discuss and resolve technical issues.
    In addition, the two organizations will provide relevant draft specifications to each other. The 1394 Trade Association will provide a summary of any test bed or any demonstration system planned or in progress, while AMI-C will provide a summary of any related Embedded Proof of Concept (EPOC) projects and planned deliverables and evaluation items. Both groups will rapidly evaluate and comment on any potential conflicts between proposed specifications.
    "This is a very constructive and comprehensive agreement that will benefit both groups, along with the automotive OEMs who are adopting the specifications and, ultimately, the consumers, who will gain the opportunity for exciting new in-vehicle audio and video applications," said Max Bassler of Molex Inc., vice chair of the 1394 Trade Association. Bassler was a leader of the team that developed the 1394-Automotive specification with the IDB Forum, which establishes an architecture for in-vehicle consumer electronics based on the 1394-FireWire multimedia standard.

    About AMI-C

    AMI-C is a global organization of vehicle manufacturers whose members produce the majority of the world's vehicles each year. Supported by automotive and technology companies from around the world, AMI-C is developing common core requirements for mobile information and entertainment systems. For more information, visit its web site at www.ami-c.org.

    About the 1394 Trade Association

    The 1394 Trade Association is a worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement and proliferation of the IEEE 1394 standard. The TA sponsors a rigorous compliance and interoperability program for all 1394-equipped products, along with developers' conferences and trade events worldwide throughout the year. For more information visit www.1394ta.org.