Mobile Advisory Council Gains Momentum, Sets 1999 Goals and Working Groups; Landmark Industry Organization Teams with Microsoft as it Addresses Key Mobile Computing Issues.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1999--The Mobile Advisory Council, an open consortium of mobile computing and peripherals vendors, today announced the successful completion of several milestones.

Since the Mobile Advisory Council was first announced publicly on July 23, 1998, 30 leading vendors have joined co-chairs 3Com and Compaq to foster the growth of the mobile computing industry. In addition, the group has formed several working groups to address mobile-specific issues and recently incorporated as a non-profit organization.

The Mobile Advisory Council seeks to develop consensus among mobile industry vendors on mobile-specific issues. This consensus provides the basis for recommendations the Council makes to standards organizations and leading industry players such as Microsoft and Intel. The Mobile Advisory Council views its interaction and cooperation with Microsoft, Intel and industry standards organizations as critical in its work in researching solutions for issues facing the mobile computing industry. As an example of this cooperation, Microsoft solicited the Council's input, via technical papers, on legacy device/port removal and mobile-specific design suggestions for the PCxx System Design Guide at the group's recent meeting, hosted by Microsoft at its Redmond, Washington headquarters.

"Microsoft is pleased with the progress of the Mobile Advisory Council in advancing the mobile computing platform," said Carl Stork, general manager of Windows hardware strategy and evangelism at Microsoft Corporation. "We look forward to collaborating with Council members on important mobile technology issues, particularly areas of current focus such as power management and legacy device removal."

To date, the Mobile Advisory Council has formed the following working groups to address the issues facing the mobile industry by actively researching various technologies and developing mobile-specific standards recommendations:

-- Communications -- Addresses issues associated with network connectivity and mobile communications

-- Diagnostics -- Identifies the most effective methods of diagnostic testing in hardware development, manufacturing, service and end-user support

-- Docking Stations -- Defines the most effective architecture to act as a standard docking interface for mobile computers

-- PCxx Standards -- Provides proactive technology roadmaps to incorporate key mobile issues into future versions of the PC System Design Guide

-- Power Management -- Researches technologies that extend notebook battery life and safety, including Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

-- Pre-boot -- Analyzes the pre-boot specifications of mobile computers, including BIOS, enhanced disk drives, PXE, SMBus, CD-ROM and integrity API

-- Security -- Identifies opportunities for improving security features specific to mobile systems

-- Software -- Endorses mobile-friendly applications and tools that allow for effective bandwidth utilization

-- Subsystem Interconnect -- Examines the feasibility of a new bus structure for connecting devices and peripherals to notebook systems

In addition to the significant progress of its working groups, the Mobile Advisory Council has incorporated as a non-profit organization supported by member dues. Bylaws have been approved by participating companies, and membership has been opened to all mobile PC and peripherals vendors. In addition, an administrative office has been established in Portland, Ore. to manage the daily operations of the group.

About the Mobile Advisory Council

The Mobile Advisory Council is an advocacy group for mobile computing standards and design. The organization creates cross-industry recommendations which focus on mobile-savvy development principles. These recommendations are presented to the industry organizations and standards bodies whose work affects the mobile industry. Participating mobile PC and peripherals vendors include: 3Com, Acer, Adaptec, AirPower, Advanced Micro Devices, Compaq, Cyrix, Dell, FCI/Berg, Fujitsu PC Corporation, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard Company, Hitachi, InSyde Software, IBM, JEIDA, Mitsubishi, Mobiliti, Mobility Electronics, National Semiconductor, NEC, NeoMagic, Phillips Semiconductor, Phoenix Technologies, S3, Sharp, Sony, TDK, Texas Instruments, Toshiba Corporation, Watergate and Xircom. The Council also works with the Open Architecture Development Group in Japan to solicit additional members and influence the mobile computing environment internationally. For additional information about the Mobile Advisory Council, visit the MAC Web site at http://www.mobileadvisory.org.

Note to Editors: All company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.