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Bell launches Canada’s first wireless TV receiver
May 28, 2013 12:35 pm | by Mike Robuck | CommentsBell took the wraps of its new Fibe TV Wireless Receiver yesterday, which sends HD quality video services to up to five additional TVs in customers’ homes without the need for more cable runs or the use of existing wall jacks. Bell is laying claim to being the first video provider in Canada to launch a wireless receiver.
Report: Some smart TV owners not connecting to Internet
May 28, 2013 12:31 pm | by Mike Robuck | CommentsSmart TVs are making their way into living rooms, but fewer than half of them are actually connecting to the Internet, according to a recent study by Analysys Mason. The consumer survey included five responses from five European companies and the United States,
Cisco wraps up purchase of Ubiquisys
May 24, 2013 1:29 pm | by Associated Press | CommentsCisco Systems Inc. said Friday that it has completed a $310 million acquisition of Ubiquisys, a privately held cellphone technology company in the U.K. Cisco said that deal will combine the expertise of both companies to the benefit of service provider customers moving to next-generation radio access networks.
Dish and Ntelos forge broadband pact
May 24, 2013 1:20 pm | by Associated Press | CommentsSatellite TV provider Dish Network and regional cellphone company Ntelos said Friday that they have agreed to develop a fixed-mobile broadband service within Ntelos' coverage area. The area in question covers customers in Virginia, West Virginia and parts of Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky.
Edmonton expands Wi-Fi service agreement with Shaw
May 24, 2013 12:29 pm | by Mike Robuck | CommentsEdmonton’s city council gave Shaw Communications its stamp of approval by voting in favor of letting the cable operator expand its Wi-Fi service to public areas across the city. The Shaw Go WiFi network will be available not only Shaw’s customers once its completed, but also to city residents and visitors.
Verizon kick starts Memorial Day weekend with VOD marathon
May 24, 2013 12:23 pm | by Mike Robuck | CommentsVerizon has booted up its “On Demand Marathon,” which is offering its 4.9 million FiOS subscribers free access to 1,700 movies and more than 50 full seasons of TV series. The VOD marathon, which started today and runs through Tuesday, is the single largest free on demand event that Verizon has hosted.
MEF unveils new service operations committee
May 24, 2013 12:17 pm | by Mike Robuck | CommentsThe Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) recently formed its services operations committee, which was designed to define, streamline and standardize processes for buying, selling, delivering and operating MEF-defined services. Allan Langfield, senior director of product development at Comcast Business, and Shahar Steiff, AVP business operations at PCCW Global, were tabbed as the co-chairs of the service operations committee.
Canoe licenses BlackArrow ad management tool
May 23, 2013 1:44 pm | by Brian Santo | CommentsCanoe has licensed BlackArrow Affiliate, the toolset from BlackArrow that enables programmers to manage ad avails in video on demand (VOD) services. MSOs can use BlackArrow Affiliate to schedule ad campaigns by criteria including day of week, time of day, and by program or series.
FCC kicks off Phase II of Connect America Fund
May 23, 2013 1:32 pm | by Brian Santo | CommentsThe FCC announced Phase II of the Connect America Fund, extending the program designed to encourage the extension of broadband networks to reach unserved and underserved Americans, mostly in rural areas. The announcement was hailed by phone companies, but was met with disappointment by the smaller cable operators who typically provide services in the areas targeted by the fund.
Cox steps up to aid Oklahoma tornado victims
May 23, 2013 12:56 pm | by Mike Robuck | CommentsCox Communications and parent company Cox Enterprises have stepped up to the plate to help customers that were impacted by the tornado that hit the Oklahoma City area on Monday. Cox is offering its TV Everywhere app outside of customers' homes in the affected area.
TWC promotes Picciolo to SVP of technical operations, residential
May 23, 2013 12:49 pm | by Mike Robuck | CommentsEffective immediately, Time Warner Cable executive Deborah Picciolo was promoted to the newly created position of senior vice president of technical operations, residential. In her new role, Picciolo reports to John Keib, executive vice president, chief care and technical operations officer.
Overture snags $8 million in funding
May 23, 2013 12:43 pm | by Mike Robuck | CommentsCarrier Ethernet vendor Overture Networks announced this morning that it had secured an initial equity investment of $8 million, with an opportunity to raise up to $11.7 million. Overture will also be opening two new development centers in Westford, Massachusetts and Bangalore, India to support its existing engineering team in its Research Triangle Park, North Carolina headquarters.
Clearwire board likes new Sprint bid
May 22, 2013 1:52 pm | by Ben Munsen, Wireless Week | CommentsClearwire’s board of directors is recommending its shareholders vote in favor of Sprint’s revised bid to buy out the wireless wholesaler. Only hours before Clearwire’s shareholders were scheduled to vote Tuesday on Sprint’s offer to buy the nearly half of Clearwire it doesn’t already own, Sprint boosted the offer. Sprint’s new bid of $3.40 per share represents a 14 percent premium over the previous offer of $2.97 per share.
Consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony compared
May 22, 2013 1:49 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsThe new Xbox One debuts nearly eight years after the Xbox 360 went on sale. It follows last fall's debut of Nintendo's Wii U and a preview in February of the upcoming PlayStation 4 from Sony. Each machine has a set of features designed to draw gamers away from rival consoles, but the one thing all three have in common is that they are about more than gaming and include entertainment services such as television, movies and music.
Microsoft touts Xbox One as all-in-1 entertainment
May 22, 2013 1:36 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsThe new console wants to be the one system households will need for games, television, movies, sports and other entertainment. People will be able to connect their cable or satellite set-top box and watch TV through the Xbox One. It will have its own channel guide and allow viewers to change channels by voice command.
