iPod rivals plan universal dock connector

Apple's competitors are looking for ways to fight the success of the iPod and one group is looking to design an open standard for a mobile device dock connector--much like the propietary connector offered on the iPod. The Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA's) Technology and Standards Mobile Electronics Committee has announced a new working group to develop an industry standard for a common portable device connector, according to a report by PC Advisor. The industry standard connector will allow device manufacturers, portable player manufacturers, and others to more quickly build devices and a market for their products. "To accommodate this need, the portable device industry has so far invented a variety of proprietary docking connectors that are not generally interoperable. This new working group will create an industry standard docking connector specification that could be adopted by any host or portable device manufacturer regardless of the format or protocol that it supports."

Filed under: industry