Tru2way Developers Conference to precede Cable Show ‘08
By Traci Patterson
The second-annual Tru2way Developers Conference will be held May 17-18 in New Orleans, just prior to the start of The Cable Show 2008.
The conference, produced by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), in partnership with CableLabs and Vidiom Systems, will provide a forum for cable operators, content providers, and Java and interactive television (iTV) developers to discuss the rollout of the tru2way platform.
Confirmed speakers include Richard Green, president and CEO of CableLabs; and Paul Liao, CTO of Panasonic. Topics will include programming, platform, consumer electronics, application development and retail opportunities. A tru2way Developers Lab will be featured, but individuals must pre-qualify (more information can be found here).
ETI creates interface for Integra5’s TV Caller ID platform
By Mike Robuck
Enhanced Telecommunications Inc. (ETI) announced that it has developed and deployed an interface for Integra5’s on-screen caller ID platform for its flagship OSS provisioning solution, Triad.
The interface enables the Integra5 platform – capable of displaying caller ID information, such as the caller’s name and telephone number, on a cable subscriber’s TV screen – to be easily integrated into any billing solution. As a centralized OSS, Triad’s database provides details about the subscriber’s set-top boxes (STBs) and telephone numbers, information vital to the Integra5 engine. The new technology interface was engineered to work with any digital video controller technology already supported by Triad.
“This new interface from ETI is proving to be a great retention tool for us,” said Mark Henry, VP of operations for Duo County Telephone. “Having tested the application with our subscriber base, we note it clearly has succeeded in creating a ‘sticky’ environment, increasing our revenues and setting us apart from competing satellite services. It’s all about creating a holistic experience for our customers, and this feature positions us very well.”
Aurora ships 1,000th LcWDMTM transmitter
By Brian Santo
Aurora Networks has shipped its 1,000th LcWDMTM transmitter to Suddenlink Communications. Suddenlink is using the system to increase its network capacity so that it can offer additional services to both its business and residential customers.
Aurora’s LcWDMTM technology is an ‘O’-band wavelength division multiplexing system that was introduced at the SCTE’s Cable-Tec Expo 2006. It has evolved into an eight wavelength system, which the company claims is the highest number of wavelengths available in the industry.
Aurora’s solution provides MSOs with a cost-effective way to segment an existing node service area up to eight times over distances up to 30 kilometers without constructing or using additional new fibers.
ICTV names Campbell VP of business development
By Traci Patterson
ICTV has named Duncan Campbell as the company’s VP of business development. He will be responsible for striking relationships with broadcast, cable and new media programmers for the creation and deployment of new programming channels on the ICTV ActiveVideo Distribution Network.
ActiveVideo allows programmers and cable and IPTV operators to offer their subscribers a combination of Web video, Web 2.0 functionality and traditional television. ICTV and iPanel recently signed an agreement that is designed to spread the availability of the ActiveVideo technology throughout China and the Asia-Pacific markets (story here).
Campbell was most recently the GM and head of U.S. operations for Two Way TV. Prior to that, Campbell served as a consultant for GSN – The Network for Games. Campbell was also VP of business development, programming and content production and served as SVP of business development and advertising for GoldPocket’s OneMedia division until GoldPocket was acquired by TandbergTV/Ericsson in 2006.
BigBand’s BMR being deployed by Chinese cable op
By Traci Patterson
BigBand Networks’ Broadband Multimedia-Service Router (BMR) is being deployed by China’s Zhongshan Cable so that the operator can process, manage and deliver digital TV services, including high-definition television (HDTV) and video-on-demand (VOD).
The Chinese operator is using the BMR as a digital “headend-in-a-box,” complete with functionalities designed to improve the video quality and bandwidth efficiency of the operator’s TV services, BigBand said. BMR’s RateShaping capability, for example, uses advanced algorithms to allow Zhongshan to increase the amount of standard-definition (SD) and HD digital video that can be delivered over its cable network without using additional bandwidth.
Zhongshan Cable serves approximately 300,000 subscribers in Zhongshan, China.
Juniper adds former Sun Microsystems exec as EVP of ET
By Traci Patterson
Juniper Networks has announced the appointment of David Yen to the position of EVP of emerging technologies. He will lead the company’s emerging technology initiatives at the intersection of high-performance computing and networking, the company said.
Yen joins Juniper from Sun Microsystems, where he served in a number of executive positions, most recently as the EVP of the microelectronics group. Prior to joining Sun in 1988, Yen was co-founder and director of hardware development at Cydrome.
More Broadband Direct:
Comcast, TWC might fund WiMAX network
Verizon asks FCC to ease consumers’ switch from cable TV services
CableCards surpass 4M mark in STBs
Bresnan buys AdGorilla’s RevGen ad servers
SureWest launches nationwide remote monitoring service
Motorola to break itself in two
Akimbo picks Harmonic’s Rhozet video transcoding technology
