Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, LG, Matsushita, NEC Develop WiHD Spec.

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LG Electronics, Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic), NEC, Samsung, SiBEAM, Sony and Toshiba say they are working as a special interest group called WirelessHD to develop a specification for a wireless high-definition digital interface (WirelessHD or WiHD), that is intended to enable high-definition audio video streaming and high-speed content transmission for consumer electronics solutions. In addition to actively promoting the new format throughout the industry, WirelessHD will present the format available for adoption as soon as the specifications are completed, in Spring 2007.

The migration to high-definition content along with the proliferation of digital source devices has intensified consumers' desire to simply and flexibly connect to highest quality, high-definition displays and consumer electronics systems. In-Stat notes that global sales of devices with a high-speed digital A/V interface is expected to grow from 60M units in 2006 to 495M units in 2009.

WirelessHD, which intends to specify the unlicensed, globally available 60 GHz frequency band, will enable wireless uncompressed high-definition, high-quality video and data transmission and is first targeted to be built into HDTV's as well as a wide range of audio video devices, both fixed location and portable.

The participants' commencement of WirelessHD relates to acknowledgement that industry support is critical. In addition, commencement of WirelessHD relates to the recent availability of several new technologies that make it possible to achieve the multi-gigabit data rates required for uncompressed video streaming. Such breakthroughs enable low cost, better image quality, and higher performance wireless A/V systems. The key characteristics and focal technologies include:
- High interoperability supported by major CE device manufacturers
- Uncompressed HD video, audio and data transmission, scaleable to future high-definition A/V formats
- High-speed wireless, multi-gigabit technology in the unlicensed 60 GHz band
- Smart antenna technology to overcome line-of-sight constraints of 60 GHz
- Secure communications
- Device control for simple operation of consumer electronics products
- Error protection, framing and timing control techniques for a quality consumer experience.

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