The Consumer electronics Association has announced that a discussion group has been formed to consider establishing an industry standard for portable and handheld devices. The standard would be for devices like MP3 players, GPS devices, video display, and cameras.

The CEA says that a standard for these types of devices could make it easier for consumers to connect the devices with home audio and video systems, in-car audio video and navigation systems. The CEA says that it already operates nine standards formulating groups covering a broad spectrum of CE products.

"Portable and handheld devices continue to change the way consumers collect, store and share audio, pictures, video and other information," said Brian Markwalter, CEA vice president, Technology and Standards. "In many cases consumers would like to attach these devices to other CE products to enhance their experiences. CEA wants to explore whether industry technical standards might enable more robust connectivity between portable devices and other products, and whether such connectivity might help to grow consumers' interest in such products."

Via CEA