OGC and AMI-C Partner to Explore Cross Industry Interoperability for Location Services

Wayland, MA, and Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA, April 18, 2002 – The Open GIS Consortium, Inc. (OGC) and the Automotive Multimedia Interface Collaboration (AMI-C) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at aligning OpenGIS® specifications, programs and processes with the information requirements, specifications and programs of the automotive industry. This cooperation extends into electronic location services and navigation programs, processes and related specifications released by AMI-C and OGC. The parties intend to work together to assure that their respective specifications are in harmony by communicating during specification development and attending key demonstration events. Each group will review draft specifications to highlight potential issues or conflicts.AMI-C represents automobile manufacturers and has been at work to standardize an interface for communications and entertainment systems for vehicles. This work is of particular interest to OGC because it facilitates an interoperable solution for delivering services that depend on location and geoprocessing into vehicles. OGC has a keen interest in working directly with the auto industry, and AMI-C, as the common voice for automakers, enables the development of coherent specifications.”People need information no matter where they are and what mode of transportation they may be using,” said David Schell, President of OGC. “This agreement enables the automotive and geoprocessing industries to harmonize specifications that will promote delivery of a broad range of interoperable location-based services in the marketplace.”””This partnership will speed the availability of common specifications related to the integration of position-based communications and services into vehicles,” said Dave Acton, AMI-C President and Board Chairman. “This will benefit both industries and their customers.”OGC is an international industry consortium of more than 230 companies, government agencies and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available geoprocessing specifications. OpenGIS® Specifications support interoperable solutions that “geo-enable” the Web and mainstream IT, and empower technology developers to make complex spatial information and services accessible and useful with all kinds of applications. Visit the OGC website at www.opengeospatial.org .AMI-C is a global organization of automotive manufacturers representing the majority of the world's vehicle production. AMI-C is developing specifications for common automotive multimedia and telematics interfaces. For more information, visit AMI-C's web site at www.ami-c.org .– end –“