What is IPTV (Internet Protocol TV)? In a nutshell, it's TV over the Internet.
The news has been littered with reports on problems with IPTV. Today's
latest article focuses on SBC's deployment of the technology, labeled "Project Lightspeed". Apparently, the project is not living up to its name due to various legal, technical, and programming problems. It's unlikely that the company will meet its goal of offering IPTV to 13 states within the next three years. Microsoft has
recently run into problems as well, with Austrialian telephone company, Telstra, canceling a field test of the product. Swisscom, another overseas telephone company, has delayed the deployment of Microsoft's IPTV technology until 2006.
Many companies (and of course, Microsoft) are very hesitant to blame the problems....
on Microsoft, but apparently the complex technology may not be
ready to be delivered over Internet lines that aren't fast enough.
Poor picture and sound quality were to blame for Swisscom's delay, plus
problems with integrating IPTV with set-top boxes and DVRs. If that's
not enough, companies are encountering legal roadblocks as well. SBC
and Verizon want legislation passed that will allow them to sign
statewide franchise agreements instead of having to reach agreements
with hundreds of municipalities which is a process that could take
years. On top of all these problems, companies like SBC have to obtain
licensing deals for programming. A spokesperson for SBC has declined
to say whether SBC has actually secured any licensing deals as of yet.
So, when will we see IPTV in mass release? Looks like Verizon is
your best bet. SBC claims that it will make it available to half of its
customers by the end of 2008 and Verizon is still in the process of
digging trenches to build up its network, but hopes to launch their
IPTV service,
FiOS TV later this year. They've already inked programming deals with A&E, Showtime, and NBC Universal Cable.
Tags: Microsoft, SBC, Verizon, IPTV, television, Telstra, Swisscom, telephone, technology, Showtime, NBC, A&E, Internet
MatrixStream to release world’s first High Definition IPTV
MatrixStream Technologies, Inc., will soon be releasing the world’s first H.264 AVC (advance video codec) Video on Demand and IPTV Set Top Box (STB) and PC Player capable of the highest of high definition (HD) signal formats with 1080 vertical pixels by 1920 horizontal pixels.
MatrixStream’s 1020HD STB will match and even exceed broadcast and satellite quality video over any broadband network the same way that VoIP can be used over any broadband connection.
Pictures of the IMX 1020 HD STB (For high resolution versions of these pictures, please go to: www.matrixstream.com/presskit).
Unlike most IPTV and Video on Demand (VOD) solutions on the market today, which are bogged down by broadband bandwidth congestion and integration issues which leads lengthy download periods or low quality Internet videos, proprietary MatrixStream technology leverages proprietary H.264 end-to-end solution, allowing viewers to watch videos in DVD or HD over any best effort broadband; capable of instant VOD, streaming DVD-quality video in real time.
Simply plug one end of the STB into a TV set and the other into any broadband connection, and then watch Video on Demand and IP broadcast TV in DVD or HD quality. With the easy-to-use remote control in hand, end users will be able to access an ever-increasing range of content and channels from around the world. Features to be included are friendly interactive menus, and e-commerce capabilities tied to MatrixStream’s dynamic advertising management (DAM) technology, which targets advertising based on individual user’s preferences and interests.
MatrixStream’s high-end, affordable (price yet to be determined) STB in conjunction with the complete end-to-end MatrixStream IPTV/VOD backend solution is engineered to work over any best effort broadband network with or without quality of service (QoS) and thus can be utilized to target the entire global broadband market, currently standing at just over 200 million broadband users worldwide. MatrixStream’s turnkey plug-n-play backend solution is fully integrated with IP STB and PC viewing clients which enable IPTV operators to deploy an IPTV service complete with billing management, subscriber management, channel management and digital rights management.
MatrixStream will be making the 1020HD available for trials in late January 2006 with a consumer edition scheduled for production by the end of the first quarter of 2006. In addition to its STB efforts, MatrixStream will be also launching its IMX1100 PC Player in late January 2006 from a client’s website, “Movie 99” (www.movie99.tv). The PC Player will feature over 300 free channels from around the world and 150 free DVD and HD quality movie clips.
About MatrixStream
MatrixStream Technologies, Inc., offers a complete end-to-end VOD/IPTV platform solution, engineered to duplicate and advance the home theater experience. Currently, MatrixStream is working with major broadband providers in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Brazil and elsewhere around the globe. For more information please visit www.matrixstream.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply and demand conditions, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. Our expectations regarding future revenues depend upon our ability to develop and supply products, which we do not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions generally identify forward looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in the pervasive computing market. In light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding the pervasive computing market, you should understand that we couldn't assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized. MatrixStream,
MatrixStream is a trademark of MatrixStream Technologies Inc. All other trademarks are registered trademarks of the respective owners, and are hereby acknowledged.
CONTACT:
Aaron Keogh
Tel: 604-291-7727
Web site: http://www.matrixstream.com
Email: [email protected]
Posted by: Aaron Keogh | Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 07:38 PM