Bloomfield Hills, MI — (press release excerpt) — The Automotive Multimedia Interface Collaboration (AMI-C) is seeking contributors to its Phase 3 development and testing of mobile information and entertainment system specifications for the global automotive industry.

Participating organizations will donate staff and other resources to support AMI-C's development efforts. They will work directly with experts from vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to develop and test specifications for automotive multimedia and telematics products. Automakers that comprise AMI-C's membership produce the majority of the world's vehicles each year.

Organizations considering participation should inform AMI-C using the notification process on its website Respondents will receive a solicitation that details the strategy, approach and scope of Phase 3, as well as the selection criteria. The contributor selection process will begin this fall.

AMI-C is developing an integrated architecture for mobile information and entertainment systems. Using common interface specifications allows for the rapid and simple installation of new components, and allows software-based features to be added without requiring extensive new hardware. This will reduce design time and effort, and allow for faster and simpler system configuration and upgrades. It will allow carmakers and suppliers to customize implementations and get telematics applications to market faster.

Phase 3 work starts in January 2003, and will focus on application interfaces that enable added functionality for low-, mid- and high-end vehicles. Work will include:

• Specification development and refinement
• Extensions of foundation work completed in the previous development phase
• Development of interfaces for applications, profiles and embedded devices
• Validation of specifications through embedded proof of concepts
• System integration

Work concludes in December 2002 on the current development phase, which is focused on the creation of an infrastructure to support basic network functionality. Included are high-speed wired and wireless networks, and host platforms that support various multimedia and telematics use cases. These AMI-C specifications are being developed through the cooperative efforts and consensus of industry experts from around the world, including auto manufacturers, computer software companies, network developers, and automotive suppliers.

AMI-C is a global organization of vehicle manufacturers whose members produce the majority of the world's vehicles each year. Supported by automotive and technology companies from around the world, AMI-C is developing common core requirements for mobile information and entertainment systems.

 
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