Scientific-Atlanta further extended itself beyond its cable roots with a string of announcements linked to IP-based video technology.
For starters, S-A inked a deal with Microsoft TV whereby the companies will develop advanced encoders that interoperate with Microsoft’s IPTV Edition software platform. The resulting encoders will support both MPEG-4 part 10 and VC-1 (Windows Media 9).
“Interoperability with an experienced video leader such as Scientific-Atlanta provides broadband operators with great price-performance economies of scale as they launch IPTV services,” said Microsoft TV Director of Worldwide Partner Development Phil Corman, in a statement.
Separately, S-A secured a distribution deal with Sprint North Supply for products that address the telco video sector. Under the deal, Sprint North Supply will offer S-A’s fiber-to-the-X optical video transport gear (transmitters, optical amps, switches and passive devices), video headend products (satellite receivers, modulators and decoder modules), and digital set-tops.
At the Supercomm show in Chicago, S-A also introduced a family of IPTV set-tops equipped for standard- and high-definition video and digital video recording. All of its IPTV set-tops will support multiple advanced codecs, including MPEG-4 and VC-1.