14 DAY TRIAL // A number of companies in the computing industry, including AMIMON Inc., Hitachi Ltd., Motorola Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sharp Corporation and Sony Corporation, announced today the founding of a special interest group aiming at the development of a new industry standard to allow the usage of Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) technology for multi-room audio, video and control connectivity. The group said that it intends to have the new standard completed in 2008.
"WHDI technology complements other wireless and wired standards with a new class of connectivity within the home," said Dr. David Lee, the founder of the HDMI? standard and a member of AMIMON's board of directors. "WHDI's connectivity matrix introduces to consumers new possibilities to enjoy their high-definition entertainment network."
The WHDI technology relies heavily on a revolutionary video-modem which operates in the 5GHz unlicensed band and allows robust wireless delivery of uncompressed HD video (including 1080p). Secure, encrypted HD video delivery through multiple rooms and other potential signal obstructions, such as people and furniture is also enabled by the WHDI technology. The superb quality and robustness are preserved, while latency is less than one-millisecond.
"WHDI delivers the robust performance that wireless connections must have to meet and exceed consumer demands," explained Dr. Paul Moroney of Motorola. "This new standard will help ensure optimal video delivery in the home."
The group intends to perform enhancements of the current WHDI technology to make available wireless streaming of uncompressed HD video and audio between CE devices such as PCs, LCD and plasma HDTVs, multimedia projectors, A/V receivers, DVD and BD players, set-top boxes (STBs), and game consoles. The new standard is intended to ensure interoperability and smooth connection between CE devices manufactured by different vendors.
"The development of the new standard will ensure that when consumers purchase CE devices and take them home, they will enjoy a fast, easy and hassle-free wireless connection that delivers the highest quality," said Dr. Yoav Nissan-Cohen, chairman and CEO of AMIMON. "The WHDI standard's objective is to enable an enriched customer experience with multi-vendor interoperability."