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Tag: Richard R. Green

  • Microsoft, Cablelabs sign deal to market digital-cable- ready PC

    Microsoft, Cablelabs sign deal to market digital-cable- ready PC

    MUMBAI: Software giant Microsoft and Cable Television Laboratories (Cablelabs) in the US, have announced that they have reached an agreement that will allow Microsoft and PC manufacturers to bring to market digital-cable-ready Windows Media Center-based PCs in the holiday 2006 time frame.

    The deal will turn the PC into an HD-capable cable box, distributing content to the PC screen, the TV and to other screens throughout the home. The new digital-cable-ready PC is aimed at eliminating the need for any other set-top device. Digital cable signals will go directly into the PC, which, in turn, will disseminate entertainment to any device hooked up to the home network including Microsofts Xbox 360 game console.

    Microsoft corporate VP Windows eHome Division, Joe Belfiore says, This agreement is an important milestone for our customers who want access to high-definition digital cable content on their PCs and a major step toward enabling a solution for the delivery of that content

    Cablelabs president and CEO ,Richard R. Green says, The cable industry is very interested in having the PC serve as another means to allow consumers to enjoy cable programming. By working with Microsoft and the IT industry, we have come up with a solution to enable consumers to enjoy the wide range of entertainment options they want.

    These Media Center PCs, capable of supporting a CableCard5 module, will allow consumers to enjoy one-way cable programming, including premium high-definition cable content, on their personal computer and throughout the home on compliant network-connected devices, such as Xbox 3605, while protecting cable operators’ investments in high-value content in a digital environment.

    Microsoft is working closely with Cablelabs to document final approval of Windows Media digital rights management (DRM) as a content protection technology for OpenCable5 products that receive one-way cable content under the terms of this agreement.

    The agreement is the culmination of more than two years of extensive evaluation and technical reviews performed by the two entities under the Cablelabs OpenCable process to develop specifications and test suites for the new solution.

    Cablelabs chairman, Glenn Britt says, This agreement carefully balances the need to preserve the flexibility of the personal computer for consumers with the need for cable operators to be confident that the hardware and software shipped with compliant Media Center PCs will function like a CableCard-enabled digital television.

    The specified OpenCable architecture allows for multiple DRM systems to be used in the device and ensures content providers of protected delivery of content to the PC. Microsoft Windows Media digital rights management is the first major DRM system to complete the due diligence necessary for approval by CableLabs.

    The OpenCable project will continue to play an important role as the new agreement moves forward, allowing the cable industry to work closely with the consumer electronics and IT industries to innovate rapidly on the new specifications developed by Microsoft and CableLabs.

    Founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry, Cablelabs is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to pursuing new cable telecommunications technologies and to helping its cable operator members integrate those advancements into their business objectives. Cable operators from around the world are members.Cablelabs will also host interoperability events to enable vendors working on products based on these specifications to test products in CableLabs facilities and conduct more formalized certification testing.

    Media Center PCs deliver advanced computing and easy-to-use integrated digital entertainment experiences. To date, Microsoft has sold more than 4 million Windows XP Media Center Edition licenses, and more than 130 PC manufacturers are offering Media Center PCs around the world. The cable industry supports more than 370 models of digital televisions manufactured by 22 companies that display one-way cable content via CableCards.

  • Cox, Cablelabs to host broadband business exchange event

    Cox, Cablelabs to host broadband business exchange event

    MUMBAI: Cablelabs in the US is teaming with Cox Communications and the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce to host the second annual US-Israel Broadband Business Exchange.

    The event takes place in Atlanta from 13-14 February 2006. It is designed to encourage business relationships among emerging broadband technology companies from Israel and the Southeast US with major North American-based companies.

    Cox Communications president and CEO Jim Robbins says, Atlanta is both the headquarters of Cox Communications and a major center for telecommunications, with noted leadership in cable-delivered broadband. Cox is proud to again host the US-Israel Broadband Business Exchange as yet another effort to work with our industry partners in Cablelabs in fostering the development of new technologies that will bring advanced services to cable customers.

    In Atlanta, through the Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technologies and Georgia Tech’s Broadband Institute, the cable industry also has access to state support and academic research resources for major corporations and emerging companies.

    The U.S.-Israel Broadband Business Exchange is unique in that participation is based on a pre-event matching procedure. The exchange also will include keynote presentations, receptions and special workshops on issues related to Doing Business with Israelis.

    In addition, Cablelabs will provide a workshop on how it operates and will discuss how supplying companies may participate in CableLabs’ initiatives.

    The event will provide attendees with exposure to a wide range of unique, cutting-edge broadband technologies. Pre-arranged one-on-one meetings will foster joint-venture research and development, investment and marketing alliances. Attendees also will enjoy networking opportunities with top executives in the areas of technology, operations and investment.

    Cablelabs president and CEO Dr. Richard R. Green says, The 2005 broadband exchange was very successful by any metric, and we hope to see continued growth and participation as this event becomes established as a key driver of innovation on the East Coast.

    Israeli companies expected to attend include emerging technology companies in the areas of digital and IP video, multimedia technologies, operating and provisioning systems, content management, voice-over-IP, wireless voice, data and video, Internet security applications and interactive television applications. U.S. companies expected to attend include cable operators, equipment/infrastructure vendors, systems integrators, content providers, and venture capital firms.

    Israel is one of the world’s most dynamic sources for high-tech companies with original and cutting-edge technologies, particularly in the field of communications. The country has produced more than 4,000 start-ups in the past few years, and has a robust venture capital industry to support entrepreneurs. Outside of the US and Canada, Virtually every major US technology company has development operations in Israel or investments in Israeli companies, including IBM, Motorola, Cisco, Microsoft and HP. A joint U.S.-Israel foundation, BIRD, supports joint venture R&D projects between American and Israeli companies.

    Cox is a multi-service broadband communications company with approximately 6.7 million total customers, including approximately 6.3 million basic cable subscribers. It claims to be America’s third-largest cable television provide.

    Founded in 1988 by members of the cable television industry, Cable Television Laboratories is a non-profit research and development consortium that is dedicated to pursuing new cable telecommunications technologies and to helping its cable operator members integrate those advancements into their business objectives. Cable operators from around the world are members.