Samsung Electronics announced today that it will provide a complete solution for telecom operators planning to deploy video over xDSL services, through a partnership with Orca Interactive, Optibase and Kasenna.
The fully integrated “triple play” solution includes voice, video and high speed data. Components of this solution include:
- Samsung’s AceMAP provides a multi-service platform supporting multi-service DSL Gateway provides digital satellite broadcasting, IP-based VOD and broadband Internet access. Samsung settops were the first to commercialize H.264, MPEG-4.
- Kasenna’s MediaBase XMP software provides the multi-format VOD streaming software and management on open hardware. It can stream MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 over both IP and ATM networks.
- Optibase’s MGW 5100 provides head end live encoding, transcoding and streaming of multiple digital TV and music channels over IP/ATM networks.
- Orca’s RiGHTv XVOD and RiGHTv XBIP (eXtended Broadcast over IP) middleware delivers and manages VOD, broadcast television, EPG, NVOD, pay-per-view, PVR and e-commerce for related merchandise.
Digital Video Recording, local content creation, time-shifted television and other advanced video-based services will also be supported.
“Acting as the supplier and prime integrator for the entire solution, we are positioned to provide true one stop shopping that customers have been demanding,” said Mr. Soon-Ho Hong, Senior VP and GM of Telecommunication Systems Division, Samsung Electronics.
The Samsung solution may be more popular in Asia where DSL penetration and speeds are far higher than in the United States.
Cable operators have television services, of course. U.S. operators may continue to pocket an estimated 50% profit margin on cable modem service since phone companies do not provide video competiton.
MicrosoftTV with CE.NET-based set-top boxes, in conjunction with partners HP (for media infrastructure) and Orca Interactive (for ITV middleware) is going after both cable operators and phone companies packaging their .Net software with Windows Media 9.
Bell Canada will work with Microsoft to develop a commercial product by the end of 2004 to deliver standard television over the Internet. Broadband Reports says Bell Canada will use their existing DSL service. A set-top box could cost as little as $50 in four years, down from a bill for materials of $150 now, which already puts it on a par with current digital TV set-top boxes.
According to C/Net, Microsoft IPTV includes instant channel changing, interactive programming guides with integrated video, and multiple picture-in-picture capability on standard TV sets.
Microsoft’s TV Foundation software, introduced earlier this year, is a cable play since it uses MPEG-2. The 2-3 Mbps data rate of MPEG-2 effectively precludes DSL delivery. With MPEG-4 (especially H.264) and proprietary formats like Windows Media 9, “broadcast-quality” video may be feasible at 1 Mbps DSL speeds.
Qwest and SBC apparently believe satellites deliver video cheaper than DSL or fiber. Both have entered partnerships with DirecTV and Echostar.
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