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- 2009 /
- April-June 09 /
IPTV solution improves viewer control
The new release of Ericsson’s IPTV solution enhances consumers’ television experience by giving them greater control over content and services.
Ericsson’s IPTV solution makes it possible for consumers to enjoy access to internet TV on the TV screen with an end-user interface that is optimized for the remote control. The solution also enables viewers to watch IPTV on their PC screens. This further strengthens the business case for both operators and content providers with revenue sharing and greater advertising opportunities.
The latest release of the Ericsson IPTV middleware was launched at the IPTV World Forum in London, UK, end of March. During the event, the solution was also awarded the ‘Best IPTV Service Delivery Platform or Client Software’ category at the IPTV World Series Awards 2009.
As a first step in its commitment to converged TV, Ericsson will also launch a software client with full DRM support, which allows PC users to access the same video services on both PCs and TVs.
Alan Delaney, IPTV Business Development Director, TANDBERG Television, says the IPTV solution is in line with consumer demands. “‘TV that is personal’ and ‘TV that connects me to everything’ were two of the desires identified during a consumer study carried out at Ericsson ConsumerLab,” he says. The study involved interviews with 35,000 people in 25 countries. Those demands, and the need for TV that is high quality and worth the money, were identified as the main TV drivers.
The IPTV solution enables consumers to access content on consumer-electronics devices with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) certification – such as home network attached storage, DLNA-compliant game consoles and cameras - and view this on their television screens.
The new release includes a fast high-definition (HD) TV portal, based on scalable vector graphics (SVG) technology, which enhances the user experience with advanced and faster animations and quicker response times, as well as allowing greater personalization with flexible user interface customization. As a standard feature, graphics can be upgraded to HD so operators only need to maintain one portal template to provide a standard definition and HD user experience. The HD Portal provides HD quality for the TV Portal and also means more information can fit on the screen and still be readable.
Other new features are Video-on-demand (VOD) download and incoming call pop-up. It also enables subscribers to use their remote control to add channels to their package via the TV portal, which is important in allowing operators to easily generate stronger revenue opportunities. With Ericsson’s IPTV solution, subscribers can also manage their personal-video-recorder (PVR) service remotely by using a mobile phone or PC to access the electronic program guide (EPG) web portal.
“The operators and service providers will also benefit from the new IPTV solution,” Delaney says. “Because it is based on open-IPTV standards, the Ericsson IPTV solution enables service providers to introduce new services more quickly and at a lower cost.” Ericsson is part of the Open IPTV Forum, which aims to work out a future-proof standard for evolving IPTV services.
Ericsson’s IPTV solution includes the world’s first IMS-integrated middleware, which can operate in non-IMS environments or where services are delivered to both IMS-enabled and non-IMS devices, including a combination of both. A combined environment allows for a smooth introduction of IMS-based IPTV including new IMS-enabled set top boxes.
