News Release: World Wide Web Consortium Releases SVG Tiny 1.2 as a W3C Candidate Recommendation

Today, W3C issued Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) Tiny 1.2 as a Candidate
Recommendation, a milestone event. SVG Tiny is already being implemented and
W3C now invites implementation experience from the community as an integral
part of the W3C standardization process. The SVG language describes
interactive vector graphics, text, images, animation and graphical
applications in XML. SVG Tiny 1.2 is designed for Web access by devices of all
sizes from handhelds to automobile media centers, entertainment consoles and
desktop computers.

"With people demanding rich, interactive graphical display of information on a
handset, it's become critical for applications developers to have a graphical
format that is truly Web enabled, with real-time update over a network and
event-based interactivity," explained Chris Lilley, W3C Interaction Domain and
Graphics Activity Lead. "SVG Tiny 1.2 introduces important features and
refinements based on deployment experience with the very successful SVG Tiny 1.1."

For more information, or to reach companies and organizations that have
provided testimonials supporting SVG Tiny 1.2, please contact Ian Jacobs, +1
718 260-9447, <ij@w3.org> or the W3C Communications Team representative in
your region.

************

World Wide Web Consortium Releases SVG Tiny 1.2 as a W3C Candidate Recommendation

2D Vector Graphics Ready to Implement on All Types of Devices

Web Resources:

This press release:
  http://www.w3.org/2006/08/svgtiny-pressrelease
  (available in Arabic, English, French, Swedish and Japanese)

10 Testimonials in support of the SVG Tiny 1.2 announcement including, in
English: Abbra, ETH Zurich, Expway, Ikivo, International Cartographic
Association, Open Text Corporation, Opera Software, Sun Microsystems,
Vectoreal, Vodafone, and in French: Expway and Open Text Corporation, and in
Japanese: Open Text Corporation
  http://www.w3.org/2006/08/svgtiny-testimonial.html

SVG home page:
  http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG

http://www.w3.org/ -- 10 August 2006 -- Furthering its mission of enriching
access to the Web through mobile devices, and in support of the rapidly
growing market for diverse mobile devices, W3C has published a milestone draft
of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), a graphics standard suitable for both
mobile and desktop devices. SVG, an XML-based format, enables the creation of
interactive two-dimensional vector graphics and animations. The latest version
of the standard, SVG 1.2 or SVG Tiny, is small enough for mobile devices and
powerful enough for the desktop.

"With people demanding rich, interactive graphical display of information on a
handset, it's become critical for applications developers to have a graphical
format that is truly Web enabled, with real-time update over a network and
event-based interactivity," explained Chris Lilley, W3C Interaction Domain and
Graphics Activity Lead. "SVG Tiny 1.2 introduces important features and
refinements based on deployment experience with the very successful SVG Tiny 1.1."

Publication of SVG Tiny 1.2 as a Candidate Recommendation is a signal that
there is broad consensus on the technical content of the document. SVG Tiny is
already being implemented; W3C now invites implementation experience from the
community as an integral part of the W3C standardization process.

SVG's Proven Record, Now Improved for Mobile Devices

SVG already benefits from wide adoption in mobile telephones, commercial
mobile services, and in desktop browsers such as Opera and Firefox, which now
ship with native support for SVG. In 2003, responding to industry demand and
requests from the SVG developer community, the SVG Working Group introduced
SVG Tiny, designed for mobile devices. SVG Tiny 1.1 provides an open standard
solution for delivering graphical content that works equally well on handsets
and desktops.

SVG Tiny 1.2 introduces video, audio, gradients, stroke and fill opacity,
styled text, and scripting capabilities into mobile devices. As the core of
SVG 1.2, SVG Tiny 1.2 is implementable on a range of devices including desktop
and laptop computers, cellphones, micro PCs, in-car media centers and
entertainment consoles. SVG Tiny 1.2 helps enhance the mobile Web experience,
a fundamental goal of W3C and its Mobile Web Initiative (MWI).

Industry and Other Standards Bodies Poised to Adopt New Standard

Since SVG Tiny was first published, mobile device capabilities have expanded
in exciting ways; industry leaders and other standards organizations have
looked to W3C to expand upon the SVG Tiny profile and have lent their support
for the format, including commitments to incorporate SVG Tiny 1.2 into their
own requirements. These commitments and other information about support for
SVG can be found on the SVG testimonials page.

SVG Tiny 1.2 is expected to be incorporated into profiles developed within 3rd
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 6, and the Open Mobile Terminal
Platform has made SVG one of the core requirements for browsers.

The W3C Compound Douments Format Working Group uses SVG Tiny 1.2 along with
XHTML Basic to form the Web Integration Compound Document (WICD), which is
being evaluated as a key component of OMA's Rich Media UI and 3GPP Dynamic
Interactive Multimedia Scenes (DIMS).

SVG Tiny 1.2 was produced with the help of industry leaders and invited
experts in graphics, mobile computing, and the Web working together. They
include Abbra, Adobe Systems Inc., Canon, Inc., Ericsson, Expway, Groupe des
Ecoles de Télécommunications, Ikivo AB, ILOG, S.A., ITEDO Software GmbH, KDDI
Corporation, Mercurial Communications Inc., Nokia, BitFlash Division of Open
Text, Opera Software, Research In Motion, Ltd. (RIM), Sharp Corporation,
Streamezzo, Sun Microsystems, Inc., ETH Zurich, Telecom Italia SpA, and Vectoreal.

Testimonials for SVG Tiny 1.2 Candidate Recommendation

These testimonials are in support of W3C issuance of SVG Tiny 1.2 as a W3C
Candidate Recommendation.

In English: Abbra, ETH Zurich, Expway, Ikivo, International Cartographic
Association, Open Text Corporation, Opera Software, Sun Microsystems,
Vectoreal, Vodafone
In French: Expway, Open Text Corporation
In Japanese: Open Text Corporation

    Abbra is truly excited to see SVG 1.2 Tiny reach the status of W3C
Candidate Recommendation. As a landmark technology produced by the W3C, SVG
has seen its adoption in all new generation mobile phones and cutting edge
desktop browsers.This latest version SVG 1.2 Tiny introduces advanced
multimedia support which makes it destined to be the key facilitating
technology for the future of the Web. Abbra's forthcoming multimedia engine
code-named Rainbow is 100% committed to W3C technology and features SVG 1.2
Tiny as the core component of its multi-platform compound document and media
delivery solution.
    -- Alex Danilo, Chief Technology Officer, Abbra

    ETH Zurich is pleased that the SVG 1.2 mobile specification progressed to
a W3C Candidate Recommendation. ETH Zurich is proud to have contributed to the
further development of this open, extensible and interoperable web graphic
standard. Several ETH institutes are among the early adopters of SVG. In 2002,
ETH Zurich organized the first worldwide SVG.Open developers conference. SVG
is used to create interactive graphics, web maps, scientific visualizations,
web applications, e-learning and multimedia content. The new graphics,
multimedia and network features will enable the creation of compelling and
graphically rich content for mobile devices, embedded devices and desktop
computers.
    -- Andreas Neumann, ETH Zurich

    Expway is truly delighted to welcome the long-awaited release of SVG Tiny
1.2. As a provider of content and services solutions for a large variety of
devices and platforms including mobile phones and televisions, and set-top
boxes, Expway has a vital need for an interactive and animated vector graphics
technology that promotes convergence between the Web and other media, and SVG,
which we already use extensively, is a perfect fit. The industry-oriented
process through which SVG Tiny 1.2 was created with its royalty-free
licensing, development and implementation by many vendors at all levels of the
tool chain, and refinement through cautious public review rather than
rubber-stamping ensures that it is high-quality technology ready for prime
time. As of today there is simply no better alternative to SVG Tiny 1.2 in
this space.
    -- Robin Berjon, Senior Scientist, Expway

    Ikivo is very excited to see the W3C SVG Tiny 1.2 specification move into
Candidate Recommendation. The timing is perfect for the mobile market as new
multimedia services and applications are being launched including things like
Mobile TV and other Rich Media applications. SVG Tiny 1.2 is the vital piece
of the puzzle in order to provide the mobile industry with an open and royalty
free standard platform of technologies for the present and the future. The
progress of SVG Tiny 1.2 is also perfect from a timing perspective for Ikivo
as we have just launched a new version of the Ikivo Animator content creation
tool providing support for creation of SVG Tiny content with multimedia
features. Further, we are planning a major update this autumn of the Ikivo
Multimedia SVG Player viewer technology with advanced features and improved
performance. Ikivo wish to congratulate W3C and the SVG Working Group for
taking this important step forward.
    -- Bradley Sipes, Vice President of Operations and CTO, Ikivo

    The ICA (International Cartographic Association) welcomes the progress of
W3C regarding the SVG Tiny 1.2 Candidate Recommendation. The release is an
important step for enabling mobile and web map applications, location based
services and geovisualization environments.

    Cartographers have been amongst the earliest adopters of SVG due to its
rich possibilities in graphics, styling, interactivity, linking and multimedia
integration, and have a vital interest in its continuing development. They are
contributing to future versions by providing feedback as content authors, both
to the W3C SVG working group and to user agent developers. Some of the
additional SVG 1.2 features allow map users to contribute to collaborative
maps and participate in data acquisition. Based on W3C's industry standard
XML, SVG also integrates well with existing GIS, mapping and database
environments.
    -- Dr. David Fairbairn, Vice-President, ICA

    BitFlash is thrilled that SVG Tiny 1.2 has officially reached Candidate
Recommendation Status by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). As an
implementer of SVG Tiny 1.2, we are very excited to see first-hand that this
new standard will enable extensive advances in rich mobile application
development. BitFlash has been working with our content partners and customers
to help ensure that SVG Tiny 1.2 closely matches requirements of the mobile
market. We look forward to helping this standard live up to its potential of
becoming a mature and ubiquitous mobile technology. BitFlash is a
total-solution provider of Mobile SVG-based technologies. Our lineup includes
a complete range of server and embedded mobile SVG products, including the
industry-recognized BitFlash SVG Tiny Player, the BitFlash JSR226 API, and the
BitFlash Document Transcoder (DX).
    -- Marc Diguer, Director, BitFlash Division, Open Text Corporation

    Opera Software is pleased to have been involved in the development of SVG
1.2 Tiny, and in bringing the specification to Candidate Recommendation. We
welcome the increased clarity that this specification provides. This helps
ensure our implementation is compliant, providing a reliable platform for
authors to build more powerful content and web application interfaces which
are better adapted to the wide variety of devices using the Web and web
technologies today. We also welcome the new power this version of SVG gives
the author to build better graphical interfaces and accessibility suitable for
the wide range of devices and platforms where Opera is available.
    -- Charles McCathieNevile, Chief Standards Officer, Opera Software

    As a strong supporter of open standards, Sun Microsystems is pleased to
see SVG Tiny 1.2 become a W3C Candidate Recommendation. XML based technologies
such as JSR-226 (Scalable 2D Vector Graphics API, Java bindings to SVG 1.1)
have enabled the creation of graphically rich content for mobile devices. In
order to facilitate the development of a more compelling user experience, Sun
is leading JSR-290 (Java Language & XML User Interface Markup Language) and
participating in JSR-287 (Scalable 2D Vector Graphics API 2.0 for Java ME),
both based on SVG Tiny 1.2.
    -- Eric Chu, Director, Java ME Marketing, Sun Microsystems

    SVG is a vital part of the future of the Web, enabling richer interfaces
and expanding possibilities. At Vectoreal, we have yearned for the enhanced
features of the SVG Tiny 1.2 specification. The puzzle of how to build
powerful Web applications that work on both desktop and mobile devices is one
step closer with the missing pieces that this specification adds. Editable
text and auto-wrapping text to enable the creation of custom widgets, enhanced
scripting for ease of authoring, and standardized audio and video capabilities
are all much needed enhancements of an already great technology.
    -- Doug Schepers, Partner, Vectoreal

    Vodafone welcomes the advancement of SVG Tiny 1.2 to Candidate
Recommendation status. We see this open standard for rich presentation and
interactivity as a key enabler for dynamic user experience across a range of
devices. Vodafone has been an early supporter of SVG as a platform for rich
applications on handsets and other mobile terminals and applauds the work of
the SVG Working Group in developing this new version of SVG Tiny.
    -- Daniel Appelquist, Senior Technology Strategist, Vodafone

    Expway se réjouit d'accueillir la spécification SVG Tiny 1.2 tant
attendue. En tant que fournisseurs de solutions orientées services et contenus
pour une vaste gamme de terminaux et de plateformes incluant notamment la
téléphonie et la télévision mobile ainsi que les "set-top box", Expway a un
besoin fort pour une technologie de graphisme vectoriel interactive et animée
qui promeut la convergence entre le Web et d'autres médias, et SVG, que nous
utilisons dors et déjà de façon extensive, constitue un choix idéal. Le
processus industriel par le biais duquel la solution SVG Tiny 1.2 a été créée
garanti que c'est une technologie d'excellente qualité grâce à sa licence
"royalty-free", à son développement et implémentation par de multiples
éditeurs et fournisseurs à toutes les étapes de la production de contenus et
de services, et à son raffinement au travers d'une revue par un large public.
A ce jour il n'y a tout simplement pas de meilleure solution que SVG Tiny 1.2
sur ce domaine.
    -- Robin Berjon, Senior Scientist, Expway

    BitFlash est fière de sa participation à la norme SVG Tiny 1.2 qui vient
d'atteindre le statut de "Recommandation Candidate". En tant qu’implémenteurs
de SVG Tiny 1.2, nous réalisons déjà tout le potentiel de ce nouveau standard,
qui sans aucun doute encouragera le développement d’applications graphiques et
multimédia dans le domaine de la téléphonie mobile. Travaillant en étroite
collaboration avec nos partenaires utilisateurs et créateurs d’applications
SVG, nous sommes en première ligne pour assurer que la norme SVG Tiny 1.2
réponde aux attentes du marché dans le domaine, et nous contribuerons à lui
donner l’essor dont elle a besoin pour devenir une technologie mûre et
omniprésente. BitFlash est un fournisseur de solutions SVG complètes destinées
au domaine mobile. Notre offre comprend une ligne de produits qui va du
serveur transcodeur (DX, BitFlash Document Transcoder) au client embarqué
(BitFlash SVG Tiny Player) en passant par des interfaces SVG de haut niveau
pour Java (BitFlash JSR226 API).
    -- Marc Diguer, Director, BitFlash Division, Open Text Corporation

    BitFlash では、SVG Tiny 1.2 が W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) において、
正式に勧告候補ステータスとして承認されたことを大変嬉しく思います。この SVG
Tiny 1.2 の最新技術が、数多くのモバイルアプリケーション開発の進展に貢献し、今
後の開発技術のニュースタンダードとなる姿を想像すると、興奮を隠せません。
BitFlash ではモバイル SVG 技術のトータル・ソリューション・プロバイダーとして、
現在モバイル市場において高い評価を頂いております、「BitFlash SVG Tiny
Player」、「BitFlash JSR226 API」、「BitFlash Document Transcoder (DX)」をはじ
め、SVG 関連のサーバ・ソリューション製品、組込式のモバイル製品など各種取りそろ
えております。私たちは、SVG 技術のスペシャリストとして、この SVG Tiny 技術が、
成熟したユビキタス社会における、重要なモバイル技術として成長していくことを期待
し、今後さらなる進化を遂げるモバイル市場のニーズに答えていくため、コンテンツ
パートナー及び顧客の皆さんとの協力関係の元、今後も最善の努力を尽くしていきたい
と考えます。
    -- Open Text Corporation BitFlash 部門 ディレクター Marc Diguer


Contact Americas, Australia --
    Janet Daly
    <janet@w3.org>, +1.617.253.5884 or +1.617.253.2613
Contact Europe, Africa and the Middle East --
    Marie-Claire Forgue
    <mcf@w3.org>, +33.492.38.75.94 or +33 6 76 86 33 41
Contact Asia --
    Yasuyuki Hirakawa
    <chibao@w3.org>, +81.466.49.1170

About the World Wide Web Consortium [W3C]

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international consortium where
Member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to
develop Web standards. W3C primarily pursues its mission through the creation
of Web standards and guidelines designed to ensure long-term growth for the
Web. Over 400 organizations are Members of the Consortium. W3C is jointly run
by the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (MIT CSAIL)
in the USA, the European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics
(ERCIM) headquartered in France and Keio University in Japan,and has
additional Offices worldwide. For more information see http://www.w3.org/