* Entone adds sales muscle
Entone Technologies has hired Gerard Pearce to the newly-created post of VP of sales.

Pearce joins Entone after serving as senior director of sales at Motorola and what was once known as NextLevel Communications, an IPTV specialist that Motorola purchased outright in 2003. 

Pearce’s work in the IPTV sector looks to fit the new strategy at Entone. Earlier this year, Entone sold its video-on-demand assets to Harmonic Inc., and is now focused squarely on the CPE sector and its line of IPTV gateways and set-tops.

* MTV hires multi-platform czar
MTV Networks has appointed Mika Salmi to the newly-created position of president of global digital media.

Salmi, formerly the CEO of Atom Entertainment, which MTVN acquired in August, will develop multi-platform strategies and services, including music, games, and community networking, for MTVN’s range of properties. He reports to MTVN Chairman & CEO Judy McGrath.

* Midcontinent re-ups with Convergys
Convergys Corp. has scored an extended five-year billing and customer care relationship with Midcontinent Communications, an MSO that serves more than 200 North Dakota and South Dakota communities.

Midcontinent, which has worked with Convergys since 1998, will continue to use the vendor’s ICOMS platform.

* Qwest triple play with DirecTV available thru Best Buy
Arranging a new marketing opportunity for its triple play, Qwest Communications has cut a deal with Best Buy so that potential customers can purchase a bundle of Qwest’s Internet access and DirecTV through Best Buy outlets in Qwest’s 14-state local service area.

* Amdocs extends deal with Bell Canada
Bell Canada has re-upped with Amdocs for billing services through 2012. Neither company volunteered information on the value of the deal.