CEA Revises Digital Audiobook Standard

May 12, 2006

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Mobile Electronics Committee is developing CEA-2003-C - Digital Audiobook File Format and Player Requirements.

The project will revise a previous version of the standard, providing better navigation and bookmarking capabilities, according to the CEA.

The standard also will provide publishers, software developers, content providers and hardware manufacturers with requirements for data structure, usability, delivery systems and media player compatibility.

"With the development of audiobook standards, CEA is bringing together content providers and device manufacturers to ensure that the technology is being implemented effectively," said Brian Markwalter, CEA vice president of technology.

CEA has two audiobook standards, CEA-2003 and CEA-2004.

Both of these standards apply to publishers of audiobooks and device manufacturers and define not only how audiobooks are structured, but how the playback device should work with the digital audiobooks.

Source: Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).