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August 4^th, 2009

digiGO! — Digital (R)evolution

Broadpoint has signed a multi-year roaming agreement with T-Mobile USA, Inc. For the first time, T-Mobile’s customers will have access to wireless voice, data and SMS service while in and around the Gulf of Mexico. Under the contract, Broadpoint will provide T-Mobile customers access to its one-of-a-kind GSM/GPRS/EDGE network, which extends more than 100,000 square miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The news comes on the heels of an announcement earlier this year of expanded coverage in deepwater areas of the Gulf, highlighting Broadpoint’s continued commitment to network investment.

Harris Corporation has announced several strategic initiatives for its ADC and D-Series automation product lines. These initiatives are designed to support nexgen, automated workflows that enable customers to implement mobile television, new media, and other emerging business models. Harris is building a new, state-of-the-art automation test and integration lab in its Denver facility to provide clients with a hands-on environment in which to experience a complete business and workflow solution for both traditional and new media distribution models. As well as providing a real-world demonstration for customers, these media workflows will be used by Harris engineers and developers to design and test new innovations in automation. The lab will be equipped with ADC and D-Series automation systems controlling both Harris and third-party hardware devices. The automation systems will enable advanced media preparation and distribution workflows, which will be controlled by Harris Invenio digital asset management software and the Enterprise Management workflow platform. In addition, business software such as Harris OSi traffic systems will be installed to demonstrate features such as Live-Update, an interactive log that allows the seamless exchange of information between traffic and automation. Manufacturing for the Harris automation products will be co-resident with Harris NEXIO server manufacturing, joining the server and automation quality-assurance function added earlier this year.

Miniweb has teamed with Metrological and Intel to demonstrate a reference design for a set-top box (STB) offering converged broadcast and broadband delivered services. The result is an end-to-end platform that could deliver in a matter of months most, if not all, of the functionality promised by initiatives such as the Canvas project led by the BBC, with the benefit of supporting a broader ecosystem that could enable, rather than limit innovation. Miniweb is providing the service management platform to enable interactive, internet delivered services to be integrated seamlessly into the television experience. Metrological Media Innovations, based in The Netherlands, specialises in middleware and reference designs based on an Intel Media Processor. The collaboration integrates the Metrological Metroconnect operating system with the Miniweb service platform and will be available on a range of consumer electronics devices based on the Intel processor, including satellite, cable and terrestrial set-top boxes and integrated digital television sets. Miniweb showed publication informitv a reference STB implementation designed by Metrological, incorporating a twin-tuner digital video recorder in a compact case, providing a HD output and a slick user interface that is streets ahead of traditional interactive television services.

One of the latest indications to hit the mobile environs deals with Netflix... the company is alleged to be planning to stream videos to Apple's iPhone and iPod touch and also to the Nintendo Wii game machine. Although containing older programming and fewer titles, the Netflix video streaming service comes with a very attractive price tag — free to Netflix subscribers. No download is required and playback quality, albeit highly dependent upon the available bandwidth of the net, does allow even those with slower connections to receive HD programs. Toss in a little to no storage requirement, and it's a deal worthy of attracting numerous users.

This Day in Nigeria reports that the disruption of telco NITEL's SAT-3 fiber cable has elicited an apology from the Nigerian Communications Commission. According to the agency, there may be a cut in the cable on the Cotonou link, which had dire effects on operator Suburban Telecoms' services. A rush is on to lease capacity from NITEL while the cable is repaired and until services can be resumed.

RCOM (Reliance Communications), the Indian telco, posted their financials for the three months that ended on June 30th. The report reveals an 8.3 percent year-on-year increase in net profit, with revenues for the three month period increased 15.5 percent year-on-year. Earnings before EBITDA rose 8.9 percent as opposed to the same period one year earlier. What drove the earnings? According to RCOM's chairman, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, it was the commercial launch of nationwide GSM services and other new initiatives.

Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) has an agreement with Comcast to bring to market the nexgen of broadband Internet and digital communications services with Advanced Cable Gateways devices. Conceived as a home networking and communications hub, this platform allows Comcast to provide state-of the art digital voice and data services to its customers — including using enhanced cordless telephone handsets to view email, manage voice mail, read news, weather, and sports, and to click-to-call from a universal address book powered by Plaxo, business directory, or call logs. Comcast and Thomson expect to start deploying the Advanced Cable Gateway in the third quarter of 2009. Additionally, Thomson has started deliveries of a new version of its hybrid (ADSL and broadcast) HD set-top box (STB) to Orange for its television service. The STB will support free-to-air and subscription TV services, as well as interactive and on-demand services. With this new HD device, subscribers can use Orange Television's catch-up TV service and its extensive library of video on demand content, including those available in high definition, through a seamless interface. The product has been developed by Thomson to fully comply with Orange's security solutions and requirements, providing optimum protection of content accessed by subscribers.