DLNA is the Digital Living Network Alliance, an open community of manufacturers in the mobile and consumer electronics space that aims to standardise the mechanisms by which connected devices can interoperate with each other in areas such as media playback and image transfer: for instance a DLNA-certified camera would be able to transfer images to a DLNA-certified PC which would in turn be able to display those pictures on a DLNA-certified TV without the need for any additional hardware or software - you get the idea.

DLNA capable devices communicate via a network connection, typically WiFi in the case of mobile devices. There are currently three main categories of DLNA device types, with each main category having its own sub-categories:

• Home Network Devices
  • Digital Media Server - stores media for playback on players or renderers, eg PCs and NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices
  • Digital Media Player - finds content on DM servers and offer playback capability, eg TVs, Hi-Fis
  • Digital Media Renderer - plays content received from a DM Controller, eg TVs, remote speakers
  • Digital Media Controller - finds content on DM servers and plays it on DM Renderers, eg WiFi digital cameras and PDAs
  • Digital Media Printer - provides printing capability for DM Players and Controllers, eg networked printers
• Home Infrastructure Devices
  • Mobile Network Connectivity Function (M-NCF) - provides bridge between mobile network and home network, eg wireless router
  • Media Interoperability Unit (MIU) - provides content translation service between compatible devices
• Mobile Handheld Devices
  • Mobile Digital Media Server - stores media for local or remote playback, eg mobile phones, PDAs and MP3 players
  • Mobile Digital Media Player - plays locally-stored or networked content on DM Server, eg mobile phones, PDAs and tablets designed for media playback
  • Mobile Digital Media Uploader - uploads content for display on DM Player or Renderer, eg WiFi enabled digital cameras
  • Mobile Digital Media Downloader - finds content on DM Server for playback, eg mobile phones, PDAs and MP3 players
  • Mobile Digital Media Controller - finds content on DM servers and plays it on DM Renderers, eg PDAs

So what? I hear you cry. A number of device manufacturers, including Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, have already achieved DLNA certification for a number of their devices offering effortless synchronisation between your mobile phone / PDA and your other DLNA-certified home networked appliances, and more manufacturers are seeking certification all the time. Watch this space for announcements as they arrive.

Visit www.dlna.org for more information.

Update - HTC have joined the list of DLNA-certified device manufacturers with the announcement of the Desire Z and Desire HD Android-based PDAs.