New Wireless Multimedia Developments

As much of the wireless industry gathers at CTIA wireless, several announcements regarding wireless multimedia have been made. Luxxon Corporation (www.luxxon.com) has unveiled its LUX2 multimedia processor, which includes a multi-codec processor that provides device manufactures with another hardware option. In addition, Packet Video ( www.packetvideo.com) has announced that its software is now optimized for the Symbian operating system.

The LUX2 is capable of encoding and decoding open-standard-based audio, video and graphic formats, such as MPEG-4, MP3 and MIDI. The LUX2 is the device-targeted hardware compliment to Luxxon's Mediator Streaming System, which consists of Luxxon's Mediator Transcoder and Mediator Server, and enables wireless operators to adapt and deliver streaming audio and video encoded to match the available network bandwidth and specific display capabilities of an end-user's device.

The LUX2 allows Luxxon to offer its own solution to optimize the multimedia capability of future devices with limited battery drain. Dave Singhal, president and CEO of Luxxon, states that the chip is about the size of a thumbnail, fits between the LCD screen and modem chip, and will be available for engineering samples in Q2.

Singhal adds that the LUX2 is a re-configurable processor that allows device manufacturers the flexibility to support all formats, and is capable of changing the way it will process the algorithm depending on the format within a microsecond. To date, no device-manufacturing partners have been announced, but Singhal states that the company will be making more announcements in the next two to three weeks.

PacketVideo Optimizes for the Symbian Platform

PacketVideo also announced today that it has optimized its mobile video decoding software, PVPlayer, for Symbian's mobile operating system.

"It is crucial for the take-up of mobile multimedia that the whole industry, from chip builders to content companies, have a standards-based format for mobile video and multimedia," says Catriona Galbraith, partner manager, Symbian. PacketVideo is a major player in the push for the standardization of MPEG-4. Symbian, however, does strive as a corporate objective, to allow all companies to develop on applications for its OS.

In addition, PacketVideo has joined the Symbian Technology Partner Program.