1995
The MP3 format comes from Germany. A research group led by Karlheinz Brandenburg at the Fraunhofer Institute in Erlangen and the Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg developed the MP3 format. On 14 July 1995, following an internal survey at the Institute, this latest development was given the name MP3, an abbreviation of ISO MPEG Audio Layer 3. Since then we have not been able to do without this format in our everyday music life.
1997
Becker introduces the Traffic Star, a combination of car radio, CD player and navigation system. In the same year
Blaupunkt presents radios with DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) reception and mobile phone integration.
1999
The era of 1 DIN navigation has started with
Becker Traffic Pro. We could not establish if it achieved the highest sales in its kind but it certainly was the most successful.
2000
TMC travel news are included in the route planning of the navigation systems. At the same time the automobile industry started to fit the first double DIN radios to vehicles as standard.
2001
Blaupunkt launches a car radio with MP3 decoder and multimedia card slot. In the same year
Becker with its Online Pro tries to combine business with entertainment, with e-mail, WAP, SMS, navigation, mobile phone, MP3, CD and 2 RDS tuners in one system.
2002
The double DIN with large screens for navigation systems is beginning to establish itself in the automobile industry.
2003
Becker enters the multimedia / CARMEDIA sector with its Vision Pro. Fuelled by very low manufacturing costs in China a worldwide multimedia / CARMEDIA euphoria emerges, with no end in sight.
2004
Alpine presents the "Dolby Digital EX Upgrade System" as a world premiere. In the same year
Alpine launches another highlight with lasting effect: car radios that are iPod-compatible. This marks the end of the CD changers. MP3 changers are also becoming less significant due to the comparably high cost. The iPod has also made the MP3 player acceptable in the automobile industry.