* MobiTV names new VP of technical operations
By Traci Patterson

MobiTV Inc. has named David Turner as the company’s new VP of technical operations, effective March 3.

Prior to MobiTV, Turner was the VP of operations at DemandTec. He also served as the VP of operations for Liberate Technologies, an interactive television (iTV) software firm that was acquired by Comcast and Cox Communications (story here).

* Gemstar-TV Guide signs licensing agreement with Humax
By Mike Robuck

Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. announced today that it has signed a patent license agreement with Humax Co. 

The multi-year agreement includes a patent license that allows Humax to incorporate interactive program guides (IPGs) in retail digital set-top boxes (STBs) that are distributed throughout Europe. The patent license also extends to digital TVs and digital recording devices deployed by Humax.

Financial terms of the agreement were not available. Founded in 1989 in Korea, Humax manufactures digital STBs.

* Verizon’s FiOS Internet expanding in NYC buildings
By Traci Patterson

Verizon’s FiOS Internet service will soon launch in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, two large apartment complexes in New York City.

Currently, Verizon offers FiOS Internet service in many parts of the five boroughs of New York, as well as in other communities throughout the state. Meanwhile, Verizon’s FiOS TV service is looking to enter New York City (story here).

FiOS delivers Internet access with maximum downstream connection speeds of up to 50 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps.

More Broadband Direct:

• Comcast’s business-class voice service dials up New England 

• Three ops accusing Verizon of illegally using proprietary info 

• Best guess for EchoStar: A mobile TV network 

• Ipitek adds monitoring tools to 10GE Ethernet platform 

• Icahn sues Motorola for company documents 

• CTHRA looking for survey participants 

• Broadband Briefs for 3/24/08