1394 Trade Association Approves New 1394-Automotive Specification; Collaboration with IDB Forum Creates Flexible Network Backbone.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 2002

"1394-Automotive", a major initiative of the 1394 Trade Association, is completed and ready for publication following unanimous approval by the Trade Association's Board of Directors.

Developed jointly with the IDB Forum and also known as IDB-1394, the1394-Automotive specification establishes the fundamental architecture, plastic optical fiber and copper connector specifications for a 1394 multimedia backbone. It enables consumers to connect 1394-equipped portable consumer electronics products -- such as CD players, DVDs, games or computers -- in their cars or trucks. The Automotive Working Group and the Cables and Connectors Working Group of the Trade Association considered all primary manufacturability, compatibility and environmental issues while developing the specification, including all physical and power management requirements.

A key element of 1394-Automotive is the customer convenience port (CCP), which allows drivers or passengers to plug consumer electronics equipment such as games, PCs, and handheld devices into the vehicle network through a single 1394 cable/connector. The CCP ensures platform interoperability, portability and scalability, and enables users to link legacy electronics products. Using plastic optical fiber cable, the network allows communications at up to 400 Mbps between devices, including satellite radio, audio/video servers, navigation systems, and on-board electronics.

Initial versions of the specification were implemented in test vehicles from Ford Motor and Mack Trucks during the Consumer Electronics Show in 2000 and 2001. Interest among leading manufacturers in the U.S., Japan, Korea and Europe has increased as the specification neared completion.

"1394-Automotive provides the most flexible and convenient high-speed network backbone for distributed audio and video in vehicles," said Max Bassler of Molex, vice chairman of the 1394 Trade Association and a leader in the specification's development. "The specification design is based on the requirements of the automotive OEMs and their suppliers, and can accommodate almost all of the 1394-equipped computer and audio-video devices now in the market."

"Automotive OEMs and suppliers have asked for an open standard supported by the industry, and that's what we have with 1394-Automotive," said Arlan Stehney, executive director of the IDB Forum. "We see this technology as a key enabler in the development of highly integrated, in-vehicle electronics functionality."

"We are now moving to define an automotive electrical physical layer supplement to the existing 1394 automotive specification," said Brad Little of Texas Instruments, the group's chairman. "This will lead to a lower-cost implementation of the standard that meets the automotive industry's demanding EMI requirements. This work is expected to be completed during the first half of 2003."

About the 1394 TA

The 1394 Trade Association is a worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement and proliferation of the IEEE 1394 standard, and products marketed under the FireWire(TM) and i.LINK(TM) brands. The association supports a rigorous compliance and interoperability program, and a set of working groups that support enhancements to IEEE 1394. For more information, including a list of 1394-equipped products, visit www.1394ta.org

About the IDB Forum

The IDB Forum is a global trade association with members that include the world's leading companies working to support and accelerate the development of open-architecture in-vehicle networking technology. The Forum's role is to develop and promote the technology assuring support in automotive and electronics products. Complete information on the IDB Forum can be found at www.idbforum.org

Note to Editors: FireWire is a trademark of Apple Computer Corp. i.LINK is a trademark of Sony Corp.