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Daily news and top headlines for broadband communications engineering and design professionals
Days are numbered for ReplayTV lifetime service subscription
April 24, 2002 8:00 pm | by Duffy Hayes | CommentsPersonal Video Recorder (PVR) technologies are certainly something consumers have shown an interest in having, but sluggish sales and general consumer malaise have plagued the market for time-shifted television viewing so far. Part of that slow growth can be attributed to an undefined strategy of exactly how to sell the box and provide the service.
Intertainer to woo indie filmmakers with new VOD channel
April 23, 2002 8:00 pm | by Jeff Baumgartner | CommentsIntertainer has launched Film Marketplace, a video-on-demand channel that aims to boost enthusiasm and revenue for independent filmmakers. Intertainer CEO Jonathan Taplin made the announcement today during his keynote address at the Streaming Media West show in Los Angeles. Intertainer said it will offer Film Marketplace via its intertainer.
Study pegs Asia-Pacific region for MTU growth
April 23, 2002 8:00 pm | by Duffy Hayes | CommentsAccording to a new report from researcher In-Stat/MDR, the market for Multi-Tenant Unit (MTU) broadband connectivity solutions that shows the most promise for growth is in the Asia Pacific region, based on a number of unique market factors. The study estimates the MTU marketplace in the region to grow more than $3.
RealNetworks streams ahead
April 23, 2002 8:00 pm | by Staff | CommentsRealNetworks Inc. is looking to raise the bar in the streaming media competition - upgrading its streaming video and audio technologies. RealVideo 9 and RealAudio Surround are designed to deliver broadcast-quality video to broadband users and subscription-quality video to narrowband users, RealNetworks says.
Broadwing trials multiband networking technology
April 23, 2002 8:00 pm | by Staff | CommentsBroadwing first tackled the all-optical switched network, now the company is sniffing around a multiband OCS system from Corvis Corp. Broadwing will begin lab tests on the Corvis Optical Convergence Switch, a multiband networking technology. Broadwing is evaluating the new technology in an effort to meet the growing needs of its customers.
ACTV, In Demand gear up for digital NASCAR coverage
April 23, 2002 8:00 pm | by Jeff Baumgartner | CommentsIn Demand and ACTV have struck a multi-year deal to offer "NASCAR In Car on In Demand," a multi-channel, season-long package of in-car camera coverage for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Launching June 16, the service will leverage ACTV's digital video compression technology and In Demand's content relationship with NASCAR.
BellSouth goes GigE in North Carolina, Florida
April 23, 2002 8:00 pm | by Duffy Hayes | CommentsBusiness customers in select regions of BellSouth's North Carolina and Florida markets will have the option of data services with speeds of up to 1 Gbps, as BellSouth announced that it was deploying Gigabit Ethernet gear to its metro network. The faster service will be aimed at businesses, schools and government agencies requiring faster data services in metro areas in the region.
Microsoft TV lays off 60, alters iTV strategy
April 23, 2002 8:00 pm | by Jeff Baumgartner | CommentsMicrosoft Corp. officials confirmed Wednesday morning that the company has laid off 60 staffers from its interactive television division. According to the Wall Street Journal, Moshe Lichtman, who took the lead at Microsoft TV in January, sent an e-mail to employees on Monday to disclose the cuts as well as a strategy shift.
Carnegie Mellon, 3 Rivers propose 'affordable' broadband measures
April 23, 2002 8:00 pm | by Jeff Baumgartner | CommentsCarnegie Mellon University researchers and 3 Rivers Connect, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit, have launched a joint venture to create an "affordable" broadband network for the 12-county southwestern region of Pennsylvania. Dubbed "Digital Rivers," the project will investigate technical, economic and policy issues tied to improving access to broadband services.
Broadband piques consumers' interests
April 22, 2002 8:00 pm | by Staff | CommentsBroadband isn't just for the rich anymore, the masses are warming up and getting ready to get into the game. The desire to have an always-on connection is piquing the interest of many dial-up customers in the United States, one analysis says. While the penetration rate of broadband Internet access is still low in the United States — only 16 percent of U.
HomePlug 1.0 chipset certified
April 22, 2002 8:00 pm | by Duffy Hayes | CommentsThe HomePlug Powerline Alliance, an industry group working to specify home networking gear that operates over traditional residential electrical wiring, announced the certification of a chipset from one of its member companies. The latest chipset to be certified under the HomePlug 1.0 specification established last year is from Canadian chipmaker Cogency Semiconductor.
Motorola keeps busy at ANGA confab
April 22, 2002 8:00 pm | by Jeff Baumgartner | CommentsMotorola Broadband Communications Sector introduced a slew of products this week at the ANGA conference in Germany, including two multimedia terminal adapters, three DVB-based digital boxes, a new operational support system, and licensing program for the company's MediaCipher conditional access platform.
European survey shows iTV interest
April 22, 2002 8:00 pm | by Duffy Hayes | CommentsThe European market for interactive television services shows a lot of promise, and a new survey results from interactive software provider Canal+ Technologies bears this out. The survey, conducted by provider CANALSATELLITE with its subscribers in France, bottom-lined revenue from interactive TV applications at 152 million Euros ($133 million U.
nCUBE, Everstream to integrate targeted ad tech
April 22, 2002 8:00 pm | by Jeff Baumgartner | CommentsFollowing in the footsteps of a close on-demand technology rival, nCUBE Corp. on Tuesday inked a deal with Everstream to create an interactive advertising platform for cable and satellite operators. Under the deal, nCUBE will integrate its nABLE On-Demand Management System with Everstream's proprietary advertising software.
Earthlink Grows Broadband Base
April 22, 2002 8:00 pm | by Staff | CommentsDespite missing Wall Street's first-quarter estimates, EarthLink Inc. says its broadband subscriber base grew 13 percent during the fourth quarter 2001. Although EarthLink's first-quarter revenue increased 13 percent to $333.4 million compared to numbers posted in the first quarter 2001, the number fell short of Wall Street's expectations.
