• Motorola E-MTA gets PacketCable 1.5 clearance
By Brian Santo
Motorola has achieved PacketCable 1.5 certification for its SURFboard SBV6220 digital voice modem, earning a place among the first complete DOCSIS 3.0 and PacketCable 1.5 certifications of an embedded multimedia terminal adapter (E-MTA).
Built on the TI Puma 5, the Motorola SURFboard SBV6220 digital voice modem supports DOCSIS 3.0 data functionality and enables MSOs to provide their customers with advanced multimedia services through additional upstream and downstream bandwidth availability.
The SURFboard SBV6220 had already been certified for data services in CableLabs’ previous certification wave completed last month. It provides up to two lines of full-featured digital voice telephone service over cable’s broadband connection to the home. The SBV6220 is backward compatible to DOCSIS 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 and can be deployed without service interruption.
• Pace joins MoCA
By Brian Santo
Pace has become a member of the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA). MoCA promotes networking of digital content through existing coaxial cable in the home.
Pace provides a variety of set-top boxes enabling service providers around the world to rapidly rollout new services, further enhancing the pay-TV subscriber experience.
Pace Americas’ VP of Technology Chris Dinallo commented: “MoCA aligns well with Pace’s goal of using open, standards-based technologies in providing innovative and flexible set-top box solutions. In doing so, both the operators and subscribers benefit from non-proprietary mechanisms.”
• IPtimize partnering with BroadSoft to offer voice apps
By Traci Patterson
IPtimize is partnering with BroadSoft in order to offer a suite of advanced voice applications to its cable customers. IPtimize is building its multimedia IP services around BroadSoft’s BroadWorks VoIP application platform.
The applications will give commercial and residential end-users of smaller cable systems the ability to manage multiple types of communications, such as e-mail and voicemail, as well as their wireless and wireline telephony features, the company said.
“With IPtimize’s offering, smaller multi-service operators don’t have to be excluded from offering the latest and best technology,” said Leslie Ferry, Vice President of Marketing for BroadSoft. “Our industry leading BroadWorks solutions help to level the playing field for them.”
• IneoQuest intros IQDialogue Desktop Edition
By Traci Patterson
IneoQuest Technologies has announced the IQDialogue Desktop Edition, an advanced PC-based software application that analyzes, monitors and troubleshoots switched digital video (SDV) networks for cable operators. IQDialogue identifies the various SDV protocols in a Web-based format, providing detailed information about the SDV service delivery platform.
“The increased bandwidth efficiency provided by SDV enables the network operator to provide additional video-on-demand and HDTV channels, increased channel capacity and improved viewer experience – with a significant increase in network and video delivery performance,” said Gino Dion, VP of strategic solutions for IneoQuest.
“IQDialogue is the only application available to cable operators for independently testing the SDV network and its various components prior to deployment, as well as the implementation of a true, end-to-end quality and service assurance solution to provide the capability to monitor, analyze, fault isolate and troubleshoot a switched digital video network. IQDialogue also allows service operators to emulate thousands of SDV clients on their system, performing various tasks such as channel changes, bootup, etc. With several North-American MSOs and equipment manufacturers already using and deploying IQDialogue SDV, we look forward to enhancing the platform as our customer’s SDV needs and deployments grow.”
• SecureMedia, ZyXEL integrate products
By Traci Patterson
SecureMedia and ZyXEL Communications have announced the integration of SecureMedia’s Encryptonite One System conditional access/digital rights management (CA/DRM) software solution with ZyXEL’s advanced range of set-top boxes for IPTV and video-on-demand (VOD) applications.
ZyXEL’s STB 1000 series (STB-1001S, STB-1001H and STB1003) includes high-definition (HD), MPEG-4-capable devices for operators that are ready to deploy revenue-generating IPTV services. Offering full functionality with HD and standard-definition (SD) in both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, with the ability to extend additional IPTV services, the STB 1000 series excels in ease of installation, field upgradability and cost of ownership.
“With the integration of the SecureMedia’s open platform content security solution, now recognized as the best in the industry, with ZyXEL’s advanced IP set-top box series, telecom operators are assured of acquiring and securely implementing a rich portfolio of premium studio and network IPTV content and providing their customers with the best entertainment experience,” said Herman Chen, assistant VP of the IPAV product division at ZyXEL.
• Broadcom’s Samueli pleads guilty to making false statement
By Traci Patterson
On Monday, Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli pleaded guilty to lying to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) while it probed stock option backdating at the company. He pleaded guilty to the single felony of making a false statement; his sentencing is set for Aug. 18.
Earlier this month, some of the salacious details of Broadcom co-founder Henry T. Nicholas III emerged in indictments that were released (story here). Nicholas was indicted on federal narcotics charges, which included allegations that he put ecstasy into the drinks of business associates, used bribes and death threats to conceal his illegal conduct, and maintained a drug warehouse.
In addition to the drug charges, Nicholas is also accused of committing securities fraud, conspiracy and other violations while he led the chip company.
• Verizon’s FiOS TV service wins in Va.
By Traci Patterson
Residents of Poquoson, Va., will soon have access to Verizon’s FiOS TV service, thanks to a unanimous vote by the City Council authorizing the telco to offer its video service in the area.
The 15-year cable franchise covers approximately 347 households in Poquoson. Verizon, which will make the service available to all households in Poquoson within three years, plans to begin offering FiOS TV later this summer.
Verizon also offers FiOS TV in Northern Virginia and the Richmond area.
More Broadband Direct:
• Cable-Tec Expo: Interactive TV gets down to brass tacks
• Concurrent debuts new pitcher
• AT&T unit supports business video apps
• Evolution showcasing headend, DTA converter at Expo
• Aurora to intro 1GHz alternative to FTTH
• RGB to demo bandwidth-saving services at Expo
