NTTC and Conklin-Intracom Team Up To Simplify IPTV

October 7th, 2009(Atlanta, GA) - Entering the IPTV arena just got easier for US Telcos. Conklin-Intracom and the National Telco Television Consortium (NTTC) have teamed up to simplify the IPTV content affiliate rights approval and implementation process.

“NTTC and Conklin-Intracom are part of an active IPTV ecosystem, both bringing unique solution sets to the table,” states Ian Meletios, CEO, Conklin-Intracom, “when combined, they represent a simplified path for IPTV content acquisition and distribution.”

NTTC believes its relationship with Conklin-Intracom will accelerate a successful entry for Telcos and other operators looking to deploy IPTV solutions. “One of the biggest hurdles to a profitable Telco TV business model is the cost and complexity of securing content. Our role in acquiring IP content licensing helps overcome that paramount task for new operators.” says William Shepherd CEO, NTTC.

For Telcos entering the video arena for the first time with IPTV, working with an integrated solution set such as that provided by Conklin-Intracom and NTTC can help to hasten the learning curve and speed time to market of new services. Those already delivering video via HFC systems or video over ATM, looking to make a change to IPTV for its next-generation

service capabilities and infrastructure investment capitalization qualities will be able to unburden themselves of some of the challenges of migration and implementation by engaging experienced partners such as Conklin-Intracom and NTTC.

Akamai Unveils the Akamai HD Network

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - September 29, 2009 - Akamai Technologies, Inc announced the Akamai HD Network, its next generation video delivery offering and the first platform to deliver HD video online to viewers using Adobe Flash technology, Microsoft Silverlight, and to the iPhone, at broadcast-level audience scale. The Akamai HD Network is the only solution that supports live and on-demand HD streaming with a highly-personalized and interactive online experience that matches and complements HD television.

As a first-of-its-kind streaming platform, the Akamai HD Network is designed as one, comprehensive HD network reaching multiple playback environments and devices, including Flash, Silverlight, and the iPhone. Leveraging the global breadth and scale of Akamai's globally-distributed EdgePlatform of more than 50,000 servers, the Akamai HD Network enables content providers to

deliver more HD content than previously possible - due to its wide-scale distribution in 70 countries and increased throughputs in more than 900 networks.

The Akamai HD Network offers adaptive bitrate streaming capabilities across playback formats that are specifically optimized to work with Akamai's HD EdgePlatform for the fastest and most consistent video bitrate switching - enabling an instant and uninterrupted viewing experience for consumers even at the highest bitrates. Leveraging Akamai's entire HTTP footprint, video over Akamai's HD Network is delivered from servers closer to audiences around the world. As a result, Akamai can more tightly control the amount of time the player needs to buffer before switching streams. The shorter the buffer, the faster the stream can adapt and respond to changing end-user conditions. The result is intended to create a seamless HD quality video experience - with little to no buffering.

"We are excited to see Akamai's commitment to HTTP adaptive streaming as the future of online video delivery, as we have worked closely over the past year to build a robust end-to-end media delivery platform with IIS Smooth Streaming and Silverlight," said Steve Sklepowich, director for Silverlight at Microsoft Corp. "Together, we've proven that these true HD experiences can dramatically increase online viewing times for broadcasters. In addition, Microsoft's ability to deliver live and on-demand protected streams with Smooth Streaming and Silverlight, along with enhanced interactive experiences, such as multiple camera angles, alternate language tracks and in-stream data feeds, have raised the bar for online delivery using HTTP."

BigBand Advances IP Video Delivery With Key Ecosystem Partners

October 22, 2009 REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -BigBand Networks, Inc. announced the company's completion of a number of key integrations that advance the delivery and availability of IP video, securely and to multiple devices. The company's IP delivery products, including its recently announced vIP PASS™, have been integrated with leading chipset, cable modem, and digital rights management (DRM) technology providers. These integrations are designed to provide an end-to-end vIP PASS solution for delivery of IPTV that capitalizes on existing infrastructure to deliver video services to a broad range of customer devices and screens. BigBand works closely with diverse ecosystem and network partners, leveraging its experience in providing digital video networking and advertising solutions, to ease the transition from standard to high definition television.

The vIP PASS end-to-end solution is the result of integrations with leading DRM systems, off the shelf DOCSIS® 3.0 compatible cable modems and chipsets that are designed to create an open, secure and reliable IP video

delivery system. On the DRM front, vIP PASS has been integrated with Widevine's multiplatform, multiformat DRM and Video Optimization solutions for secure, high quality delivery of premium content. On the consumer premise equipment side, vIP PASS has been integrated with numerous DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems and gateway technologies including NETGEAR, Mplus Technology Co., Hitron Technologies, SerComm, and DOCSIS 3.0 chipsets from Texas Instruments and other major chipset manufacturers.

vIP PASS is compatible with and does not modify any DOCSIS 3.0 modem software. With the integration of vIP PASS with major DOCSIS 3.0 chipsets, most DOCSIS 3.0 modems can now support vIP PASS. An end-to-end solution, vIP PASS is part of BigBand's recently announced Converged Video Exchange (CVEx™), an intelligent video control plane that provides a unified means to deliver and manage video services across networks and devices, enabling a migration path to tomorrow's IP network.

"IPTV is not about the technology, rather it's about the underlying promise of being able to easily move video to multiple destinations securely and cost-effectively, be it TV services to the PC or PC content to the TV or mobile devices," said John Holobinko, vice president of marketing,

BigBand Networks. "We're pleased to work with leading technology companies to forge an open systems approach to DOCSIS 3.0-based IP video delivery that is seamless, protected and compatible with the latest cable modem technology that cable operators will deploy into millions of homes."
BigBand's vIP PASS solution is designed to reduce the network complexity in delivering IP video services by leveraging the same cable network architecture, software systems and network-based tools that are used to deliver and manage all of today's proven cable video services. vIP PASS supports the delivery of IP video services to a wide variety of IP-enabled consumer electronics devices. By delivering IP video in DOCSIS format (the industry's signaling standard), vIP PASS gives service providers the ability to deliver video streams to IP devices without the need to transit through a CMTS. This is designed to offer a more cost-efficient means to deploy IPTV today, whether through managed services or over the top. vIP PASS is further enhanced by BigBand's market-leading and field proven edge QAM platforms, video control plane technology, video QoS, and performance and viewership tools that give operators visibility into the performance and viewing statistics of their video content.

Tangerine Global Delivers State-of-the-Art IPTV Delivery Solution

Oct 22, 2009 Tangerine Global has unveiled a new IPTV service that provides 120 digital TV channels and expansive HD choices to worldwide travelers. The state-of-the-art "Citrus Solution" is a seamlessly integrated entertainment and information service that uses interactive technology to deliver the ultimate in-room experience.

Fittingly, the system is debuting at the Rosewood Sand Hill, located in the technology epicenter of Silicon Valley in Menlo Park, California. Future hotel installations will be announced shortly.

"The Citrus Solution is flexible and can be customized to achieve each hotel`s needs and objectives," said Greg Pasetta, Tangerine Global President & CEO. "We are able to deliver the ultimate IPTV guest experience by combining

our top programming with our IPTV platform, which features a fully interactive program guide (IPG), the fastest change time in the industry and more channels in a smaller headend footprint."

Tangerine Global`s Citrus Solution, a proprietary IPTV entertainment system that delivers the latest technology and content for the creation of personalized guest experiences, also boasts the most advanced proven technology for delivery of HD channels and VOD programming.

"Tangerine Global is the expert in IPTV, and its Citrus Solution provides us with the ability to offer every guest a new level of interactivity and customization, thereby enhancing their in-room experience," added Fred Crespo,Senior Director of Information Systems at Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. "Our guests already have their fingers on the pulse of entertainment and technology,so the ability to elevate those experiences for them with Tangerine Global`s Citrus Solution is a tremendous benefit."

Tangerine Global`s extensive HD offering includes 41 HD channels and more than 100 HD On-Demand titles. It also features an IPG, a customized interface and six HD luxury thematic

channels, including Fashion & Design; Art & Culture; Sports & Recreation; Food, Wine & Beverage; Yoga & Fitness; and Travel & Adventure.

Additionally, there are 50 channels of digital music, which make a total of 120 digital channels available to Rosewood guests.

To further enhance the guest experience, Tangerine Global has integrated with Rosewood`s in-room control system to provide guests with a seamless interface between the TV and in-room controls, as well as individual wake-up calls and lighting controls.

Thomson Signs Contract with LiveTV for Development of IPTV Technology for Aircraft

Paris (France), October 22, 2009 - Thomson announced that it has signed a long-term contract with LiveTV for the development of a live TV broadcast system for aircraft.

Based on Thomson's pioneering IPTV-based satellite television distribution technology, the solution enables the transformation of satellite content into video-over-IP content for distribution and viewing on individual seat back screens. Thus, Thomson's system enables LiveTV to offer hundreds of channels in digital quality, as well as providing features such as electronic program guide. Additionally, the system allows for insertion of live channels generated within the plane, such as navigation information.

This partnership has been recently concretized with Continental Airlines, to which LiveTV is currently supplying DIRECTV® services via Thomson's technology.

Frederic Rose, Chairman and CEO of Thomson, commented, "The signing of this contract with LiveTV provides us with an opportunity to further expand our existing customer and solutions portfolio and sets the stage for what we believe will lead to a very innovative partnership. It also illustrates our commitment to provide cutting edge services to content creators in any situation."

"We are delighted to benefit from Thomson's worldwide expertise in digital video technologies to bring airline passengers the widest choice of programming to their seat-back screens just as they would enjoy at home. This partnership will strengthen our position as the leading US provider of live entertainment products to commercial aircraft markets worldwide", said Nate Quigley, CEO of LiveTV.

Under the terms of the agreement, Thomson will carry out engineering and product development services for the live broadcast entertainment system for aircraft, while LiveTV will license Thomson's satellite multi-client gateway software technology and market the system to commercial airlines worldwide.

Amino Announces IPTV Set-Top Box Powered By Intel® Atom™ Processor CE4100

Cambridge, UK - 12 October 2009 - Amino Communications has demonstrated an IPTV set-top box (STB) that is powered by the new Intel® Atom™ Processor CE4100 (formerly codenamed "Sodaville"). The Intel media processor is the first 45nm consumer electronics (CE) system-on-chip based on the Intel® Atom™ core and popular Intel® architecture.

This new generation of Amino products will address growing consumer demand for TV-based entertainment from any source - including broadcast, on-demand and open Internet "Over-the-Top" (OTT) services. Using the new Intel® Atom™ Processor CE4100 will enable Amino to

develop new types of hybrid/OTT devices that offer unparalleled flexibility and functionality.

Announced at the recent Intel® Developers Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, the CE4100 media processor combines leading-edge CE features for high-definition video support, home-theatre quality audio and advanced 3-D graphics, with the performance, flexibility and compatibility of hardware and software based on Intel architecture.

The CE4100 will enable IPTV STBs to deliver a full open Internet experience, creating new opportunities for network operators and service providers to offer enhanced entertainment experiences to their customers.

Le Foll also added, "This builds on our relationship with Intel and we are delighted to have worked closely with them to showcase the benefits that CE4100 can bring to the performance of STBs in the IPTV world. We look forward to delivering a powerful new STB that harnesses the strengths of the CE4100 to deliver top-notch performance, improved functionality and reliability at a compelling price point."

The CE4100 media processor is a highly-integrated solution that pairs a powerful Intel® Atom™ processor core with leading-edge multi-stream video decoding and processing hardware. It also adds support for 2-channels of 800MHz DDR2 or 1333MHz DDR3, dedicated multi-channel dual audio DSPs, a powerful 3-D graphics engine enabling advanced UIs and EPGs, and support for multiple peripherals, including USB 2.0.