| HDMI FOUNDERS HITACHI, MATSUSHITA (PANASONIC), PHILIPS, SILICON IMAGE, SONY, THOMSON AND TOSHIBA COMPLETE v 0.9 HIGH DEFINITION MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE DRAFT SPECIFICATION 28 June, 2002
SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 28, 2002 -- The High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Founders today announced that the draft specification v 0.9 defining HDMI, the next-generation digital interface for consumer electronics, is now available for review at www.hdmi.org. The HDMI Founders are Hitachi, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Philips, Silicon Image, Sony Corporation, Thomson multimedia and Toshiba Corporation. The HDMI draft specification v 0.9 provides manufacturers interested in developing HDMI-capable products with detailed information on implementing HDMI functionality, including: integrating audio by using auxiliary packetized data transfer technology; designing the elegant 15 mm, 19-pin HDMI interface for CE devices and incorporating High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). Version 0.9 of the specification is provided to interested parties under a Specification Review Agreement, allowing review of the draft before finalization of v 1.0 of the specification. Details are available at www.hdmi.org. The release of v 0.9 of the HDMI specification represents a significant milestone, occurring on an aggressive timetable during the same quarter the HDMI Founders announced the formation of a working group. The HDMI initiative has been met with broad industry support from major motion picture producers Fox and Universal, satellite companies DIRECTV and EchoStar, cable companies and consumer electronics manufacturers. Designed to usher in the new era of digital entertainment, HDMI combines high-definition video and multi-channel audio in a single digital interface with a bandwidth of up to 5 Gigabits/second. Benefits include uncompressed digital quality, fewer cables and a small, user-friendly connector. HDMI builds upon the success of the Digital Visual Interface (DVI)-the digital interface technology popular in the PC realm-offering new CE features while maintaining full backward compatibility. The key technology underlying DVI will also serve as the basis for the new HDMI specification. "HDMI offers a viable and attractive solution to the current HDTV stalemate," stated Wanda Meloni, president of M2 Research. "HDMI is the first video and audio standard to amass support from the entire CE value chain, from content providers to system operators to CE manufacturers. Consumers have been eagerly awaiting more compelling high-definition content, and HDMI should unlock the floodgate. The pace at which the HDMI Founders have reached this milestone is encouraging to all those with a vested interest in the success of HDTV." About the HDMI Founders Comprised of Hitachi, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Royal Philips Electronics, Silicon Image, Sony Corporation, Thomson multimedia and Toshiba Corporation, the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Founders have joined together to define a next-generation digital interface specification for consumer electronics products. HDMI is also supported by major motion picture producers, as well as satellite and cable companies. For more information about the HDMI specification and the HDMI Founders, visit www.hdmi.org This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of federal securities regulations. These forward-looking statements include statements related to the development and anticipated completion of the HDMI specification, its anticipated properties and benefits, the anticipated ability of the companies issuing this news release to develop and supply products adhering to the HDMI specification, and the anticipated timing of availability of the HDMI specification. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those described from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by the companies issuing this news release, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the proposed HDMI standard may not be finalized or adopted when expected or at all, these companies may not be able to develop and supply products adhering to the HDMI standard, or any such products may not be accepted by the market, or produce revenue, margin or profit, and consumer electronic manufacturers, motion picture producers and system operators may prefer competing technologies, including alternative technologies or specifications that may be developed. The companies issuing this news release assume no obligation to update this forward-looking information. MEDIA CONTACTS: Hitachi: Takeshi Okamoto (tokamoto@dm.kaden.hitachi.co.jp) |
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