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Tag: Andre Kudelski

  • Kudelski Group launches Kudelski Security

    Kudelski Group launches Kudelski Security

    MUMBAI: The Kudelski Group, which offers media content protection and value-added services technology, has announced the launch of Kudelski Security, its new Cyber Security division.

    Kudelski Group CEO André Kudelski said, "Having dealt with security for a few decades and having fought piracy on behalf of our customers for the last 20 years, we have developed an unmatched talent pool with a unique skill set that we want to leverage by offering a new protection paradigm to anyone exposed on the internet. In an increasingly connected world, companies, families, individuals are all targeted by the new cyber threats and action is needed now."

    Kudelski Security senior VP, head Christophe Nicolas said, "The purpose of Kudelski Security is to deliver tailored cyber security solutions and services to enterprises, financial institutions, government administrations and our media customers. Initial focus will be Europe, before expanding the offering worldwide, such as for our existing media customers".
    The Kudelski Security offering consists of a set of services initially focusing on assisting companies to assess risk and vulnerabilities in order to ensure privacy and confidentiality of their data and analytics as they move their business processes and applications in a cloud dependent ecosystem. The offer will include monitoring the evolution of the threats and keeping consumer data secured, while access to data becomes more dynamic and mobile, through new consumer devices like smartphones and tablets.

    Kudelski Security adds that it goes beyond a pure technology security offering by combining technological know-how and legal expertise, compliance, field investigation and crisis communication into a new type of global Cyber Alert Response Squad.

  • Kudelski to take controlling interest in TV technology firm OpenTV

    Kudelski to take controlling interest in TV technology firm OpenTV

    MUMBAI: US firm OpenTV which provide enabling technologies for advanced digital television services has announced that the Kudelski Group which works in the area of content protection and related digital
    television technologies, has signed a stock purchase agreement with Liberty Media to acquire voting control of OpenTV.

    The transaction aligns two global digital television technology firms who, together, will be able to deliver fully integrated products and
    solutions to the world’s digital TV operators, spanning conditional access software, middleware, interactive applications, and advertising. At the same time, the transaction enables both companies to continue operating
    independently, supporting efforts to serve some customers on a standalone basis as their requirements dictate.

    The Kudelski Group companies, with consolidated 2005 revenues of approximately $550 million, include primarily:
    — Nagravision, a worldwide leader in integrated security software solutions for digital television — Nagra France, NagraStar, Nagra Plus, NagraCard and NagraID
    — Abilis, Quative, and SmarDTV developing new technologies in mobile, IPTV and security
    — SkiData specialising in public access
    OpenTV has historically worked closely with the Kudelski Group to deliver various digital television services, including PVR, VOD and other on-demand services, EPG and content syndication for on-demand services,
    interactive applications, and enabling technologies for enhanced and interactive advertising.

    OpenTV chairman and CEO Jim Chiddix says, “Aligning ourselves with a global leader in the digital television sector like Kudelski will help us immediately extend our product lineup
    into new markets and give us access to customers we haven’t had relationships with before. It will also open up new opportunities that we may not otherwise have had the technical or related resources to address in
    the near term.

    “We think this deal offers us a myriad of new opportunities to bundle solutions, sell products into Kudelski’s existing customer base, save costs through various integration and joint R&D efforts, and collaborate more effectively in several early stage sectors, such as the digital terrestrial market.

    “And, just as importantly, we expect to do that while retaining the requisite degree of independence necessary to satisfy the needs of all of our existing and potential customers and partners, with a continued focus on maximising value for all OpenTV stockholders.”

    Kudelski Group chairman and CEO Andre Kudelski says, “OpenTV’s software has established the global benchmark for set-top box middleware. We also believe it is a company with great potential and very
    talented people, a gold-plated customer list, and market-leading technologies that will offer both OpenTV and the Kudelski Group, working
    side by side, real growth opportunities.

    “This transaction was driven, in large part, by
    recognition of OpenTV’s leadership position in advanced digital television and our desire to work more closely with OpenTV to capture additional market share in the rapidly consolidating digital television industry. With
    digital television households expected to double by 2010, with the landscape for television advertising changing daily, and with the mobile
    and online video sectors now quickly evolving, we see OpenTV as extremely well-positioned to exploit these opportunities — even more so given the complementary nature of our product offerings.”

    Liberty Media senior VP Michael Zeisser says “Over the past four years, through its controlling position in OpenTV, Liberty has helped shape an industry-leading player in digital television. OpenTV has a strong management team, customers, and momentum. As it embarks on its next stage of growth Kudelski will be a formidable strategic partner.”

  • SCM sells digital TV solutions business to Kudelski

    SCM sells digital TV solutions business to Kudelski

    MUMBAI: The California headquartered SCM Microsystems, which provides solutions that open the digital world has sold its digital TV solutions business to the Swiss based Kudelski Group. It has got $11 million in cash for the deal.

    Kudelski Group chairman and CEO Andre Kudelski says, “SCM pioneered removable security for digital broadcasting and has helped build a market for open systems in the digital TV industry. Removable security modules will become a key enabler of digital pay-TV services as the retail market continues to grow and develop.”

    SCM Microsystems CEO Robert Schneider says, “The sale of our Digital TV business furthers our strategy to consolidate and restructure our organisation around a more focused business model. With one headquarters and operational center in Germany, one development facility in India and a seasoned sales team in the U.S., we believe that we will be able to take advantage of market opportunities more efficiently and cost effectively.

    “Going forward, we intend to put our entire attention on leveraging our smart card and media reader businesses by providing industry-leading solutions for emerging markets such as e-health, e-passport, secure physical access, electronic payment and digital photo printing.”

    Under the terms of the agreement with Kudelski, SCM will sell substantially all of the assets that relate to its digital TV solutions business, including its office building in France, certain inventory, contracts, trademarks and intellectual property.

    In addition 40 employees in Europe and Asia are expected to join Kudelski’s newly created business focussed on providing secure pay-TV modules compatible with consumer electronic products for the digital TV industry. The products that Kudelski is acquiring include SCM’s DVB and OpenCable compliant conditional access modules, used to securely decrypt digital television broadcasts, as well as
    controller chips used in set-top boxes that interface with the decryption modules.

    The Kudelski Group works in the field of digital security. Its technologies are used in a wide range of applications requiring access control and rights management, whether for securing transfer of information (digital television, broadband Internet, video-on-demand, interactive applications, etc.) or to control and manage access of people or vehicles to sites and events.