February 10, 2004
Japanese Manufacturers, Internet Service Providers Establish Ubiquitous Open Platform Forum
TOKYO, JAPAN -- A group of fourteen electric appliance manufacturers and internet service providers in Japan announced today that they have established a “Ubiquitous Open Platform Forum” (UOPF). The forum members will work collectively in order to promote internet-accessible home electric appliances, as well as widen the broadband market by standardizing network specifications.
The companies will collaborate in the establishment of the platform, which
is an open common standard that will facilitate easy-setup of electronics devices,
safe online billing, and real-time data communication between home electronics
devices. The UOPF member companies will also work closely with application and
content providers in order to create common frames.
Under the current timetable, UOPF plans to set up a first specification of the
platform around spring 2004, and expect home electronics and internet services
based on UOPF standards around the fall of the same year.
In addition, UOPF members will work together to (1) define specifications of the platform (2) verify network compatibility between appliance makers and internet providers, (3) launch worldwide marketing and promotion for internet-accessible appliances, (4) plan an IPv6 implementation, and (5) research market movement and technical trends.
The fourteen member companies are as follows: NTT Communications Corporation,
KDDI Corporation, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Sony Corporation,
Sony Communication Network Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Nifty Corporation,
NEC Corporation, Pioneer Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial
Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.
UOPF will also invite additional corporations and organizations who are interested
in participating in the initiative.
Dream Incubator Inc. CEO, Koichi Hori and Keio University Professor Jun Murai
have been appointed UOPF advisors, and the Ministry of Public Management, Home
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications will act as an observer.
Home electronics appliances such as audio visual products are becoming digitalized
and high-powered in response to the increase in broadband and mobile internet
popularity that has taken place over the past few years.
By integrating safe, user-friendly and internet-accessible home electronics
with a standardized network environment, UOPF will help to create a new market
and also ensure the rapid realization of a ubiquitous information-oriented society.
For more information about UOPF, please contact:
UOPF Office (NTT Communications Corporation)
Tel +81 3 6700 4643 Fax +81 3 3504 2725
info@uopf.org
