Wireless multimedia comes into focus

By Cathleen Moore
InfoWorld, 10/03/00

Making headway in its efforts to drive the development of a wireless multimedia networking framework, the Wireless Multimedia Forum (WMF) at its September meeting in Raleigh-Durham, N.C. released portions of two working group documents and added several new member companies.

The members-only working group documents represent a technical framework that can be used to develop multimedia content across wired and wireless networks, according to the WMF. Portions of the two documents were released in order to prevent fragmentation for content delivery in the wireless market.

The Application Requirements Document discusses the system requirements under consideration by the WMF for carriers and content providers, which includes a system model for content providers, host environment requirements, operating system support requirements, billing and accounting security, and QoS (quality of service).

The Recommended Technical framework Document specifies technologies for use in system development to ensure interoperability of mobile applications and networks. Version 1.0 of the document will be published by early next year. Future versions will focus on applications such as downloading and uploading multimedia content, multimedia messaging, wireless video surveillance, and real-time videoconferencing.

The WMF will distribute the technical document to wireless industry organizations and standards bodies for consideration with platform development. In addition, WMF member companies can use the technical framework document as a guide for standardized technologies to be used in developing products and services.

The five new member companies added to the forum are Air2Web, Comverse Network Systems, Command Audio, SK Telecom, and Vast Video.

More information about the WMF can be found at www.wmmforum.com .