[MPEGIF News] MPEGIF in new MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Interoperability Test Round

[Moeritz, Sebastian]

Dear MPEGIF News Readers,
We have just announced our new MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Interoperability Test Round.
Our release can be found on Business Wire
(<http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_v
iew&newsId=20041102005281&newsLang=en>) and on our website
(<http://www.mpegif.org/public/documents/vault/mp-out-40056.php>).
MPEG-4 AVC is a reality and about to conquer the market -- stay tuned for
more news on this list!
Kind regards,
Sebastian Moeritz
President
MPEG INDUSTRY FORUM 
-----------------------------
MPEGIF in new MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Interoperability Test Round: 30 Companies
Focus on Cutting Edge Codec Technology 
FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2004--The MPEG Industry Forum
(MPEGIF) today announced the launch of a new 6th round of interoperability
testing, in which 30 companies will test the latest MPEG-4 Audio and Visual
codecs. The codecs featured in the tests will include Advanced Video Coding
(AVC, also known as MPEG-4 Part 10 and H.264) and MPEG-4 High Efficiency AAC
Audio. These next generation codecs are being used in a wide range of new
products including Standard Definition and High Definition video encoders
and set top boxes, portable digital broadcast receivers, video-equipped
mobile phones as well as a number of other new consumer electronic devices. 
Interoperability testing is of paramount importance and tremendous value in
product development with open standards, such as MPEG-4, in the
international marketplace. Companies come together to test their codec
implementations in order to ensure that products will work together, and any
interoperability problems are resolved in a collaborative way. The fact that
30 MPEGIF member companies have joined the current test round is clear
evidence that products based on these new and efficient codecs are playing a
major role in the next generation digital media industry. 
The new test round is now underway and will continue until December,
culminating in a face-to-face interoperability event sponsored and hosted by
the Internet Streaming Media Alliance (ISMA) and held jointly with the
International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium (IMTC) and MPEGIF.
This historic event will be the first time all three organizations have met
together for shared testing. 
"MPEG-4 AVC and HE AAC are not a fantasy, real products have arrived,"
commented Sebastian Moeritz, President of MPEGIF. "Many are available today,
many more are being released shortly, and this new interoperability test
round will demonstrate and confirm that the technology is ready for
widespread adoption and deployment. For more than four years, MPEGIF has
been providing the best possible world-class environment for this type of
testing to our members through our Interoperability Working Group." 
"The range and number of companies taking part in this interoperability
round speaks volumes for how MPEG-4 AVC and AAC are now being readied for
operators around the world," said David Price, Vice President of MPEGIF.
"Service providers are starting to take AVC today into real revenue-bearing
deployments." 
Companies that participate in the new interoperability test round will be
eligible to participate in the new MPEGIF Logo Qualification Program. In
this program, MPEGIF provides a widely recognizable mark, the "MP4" Logo, to
be displayed on qualified products. The Logo, issued by MPEGIF, is a sign of
quality, and indicates that the product has been tested in at least one
round of MPEGIF Interoperability testing, and that it has also passed
additional test criteria defined under this program. Besides carrying the
"MP4" Logo, the products are also listed in a "Qualified Products Directory"
on the MPEGIF Logo Qualification web site. For more information on the Logo
Program, please visit www.logo.mpegif.org. 
About the MPEG Industry Forum 
MPEGIF represents approximately 100 companies from diverse industries.
MPEGIF member companies are evenly distributed across North America, Europe
and Asia, addressing MPEG adoption issues that go beyond the charter of
ISO/IEC MPEG. Specifically focusing on the widespread adoption of MPEG-4 AVC
and AAC, activities include marketing, interoperability and the MPEGIF Logo
Qualification Program as well as presence at trade shows and extensive
conference participation. For more information visit: http://www.mpegif.org,
or contact Laura Nugent at +1 510 744-4026, or by Email at
lnugent mpegif.org.
Contacts  
MPEG Industry Forum
Laura Nugent, 510-744-4026
lnugent mpegif.org