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Delphi and MP3 Enabling a Music Revolution

6 January 2000

Delphi and MP3 Enabling a Music Revolution 
          Delphi Demonstrates Onboard MP3 Music Playback Capability

    LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 -- In response to what is perhaps the most
revolutionary trend in music history, Delphi Automotive Systems
today demonstrated one of the automotive industry's first MP3 audio playback
original equipment applications at the 2000 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in
Las Vegas.
    Delphi leads the industry by offering MP3 playback, which is the latest
addition to its expanding Communiport(R) Mobile MultiMedia (MMM) product line.
Communiport offers a host of integrated communication and entertainment
systems tailored for individual vehicle manufacturers.
    The Delphi MP3 playback devices demonstrated at the CES are integrated
into Communiport navigation and audio systems mounted into passenger car
center consoles.  Presence of the MP3 unit is virtually undetectable.  One
MP3-equipped audio system houses a CD-ROM that outwardly looks like a standard
integral CD player.  In another vehicle, MP3 playback is achievable using
compact flash memory cards inserted in a small double DIN MMM center console
unit.  According to Dave Wohleen, president of Delphi Delco Electronics
Systems, Delphi's MP3 demonstration shows that original equipment applications
are right around the corner.
    "MP3 is becoming an important medium that is absolutely revolutionizing
the music business," Wohleen said, "and we're getting a great deal of interest
from automakers on our MP3 playback application development."
    "The unprecedented growth of MP3 is simply changing the way music is
stored and distributed, and it's our job to make sure vehicle builders can
react to these trends, no matter how quickly they develop."
    MP3 -- which is short for the audio part (layer3) of the MPEG (Motion
Picture Experts Group) specification -- is an audio compression standard that
emerged little more than a year ago and has been a growing Internet rage ever
since.  It enables digital audio music files to be compressed by a factor of
ten or more without compromising sound quality.
    With MP3 encoders, many music lovers are now compressing music off
standard music CDs, converting it into MP3 computer files for their personal
use, then copying the files onto recordable CDs or compact flash memory cards.
This enables storage of 10 to 12 times more music on a CD-ROM than on a
conventional CD.
    MP3 websites are among the most popular on the Internet today, mostly
drawing enthusiasts in the 18 to 35 year-old range, according to Dr. Robert W.
Schumacher, director of the Delphi Delco Electronics Systems Mobile MultiMedia
Business Group.
    Primary research from MP3.com, a popular Internet site, shows that
visitors to MP3 websites are five times more likely to have purchased a new
vehicle in the last 24 months.  "As MP3 playback capability gains in
popularity, we are excited about taking the steps to put this revolutionary
technology into vehicles," said Schumacher.
    Schumacher said Delphi is addressing all forms for the playback of MP3
audio files onboard cars and trucks.
    These files can be played back four different ways on vehicles:  via flash
memory, disk drive, CD-ROM and direct wireless download from the Internet or
from service centers.  We have the capabilities to integrate all of them.
"Flash memory cards can already store up to 90 minutes of CD quality music
today, but flash density is going up and the cost is coming down very fast,"
Schumacher said.
    "We're not far from the day when you can download an MP3 file wirelessly
from the Internet, copy it to a flash card or disk drive and enjoy it, while
you're driving to work," he said.
    Delphi Automotive Systems, with headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA, is a
world leader in automotive component and systems technology.  Delphi's three
business sectors -- Dynamics & Propulsion; Safety, Thermal & Electrical
Architecture; and Electronics & Mobile Communications -- provide comprehensive
product solutions to complex customer needs.  Delphi has approximately 201,000
employees and operates 168 wholly owned manufacturing sites, 38 joint
ventures, 51 customer centers and sales offices, and 27 technical centers in
37 countries.  Regional headquarters are located in Paris, Tokyo and Sao
Paulo.  Delphi can be found on the Internet at http://www.delphiauto.com