another version of todays press release. Q1 of 2000 for rollout.
atlanta.dbusiness.com
Concurrent develops personal TV
By Daniel F. DeLong, dbusiness.com
ATLANTA, Dec. 13 (dbusiness.com) - Concurrent Computer Corporation
(Nasdaq: CCUR) announced Monday new technology that allows cable
television operators to offer easy interactive, on-demand offerings to customers.
Concurrent's XSTREME Division calls its video-on-demand equipment the
MediaHawk video server line. The company said it will be rolled out in the first
quarter of 2000. Cost has not been determined yet, a company spokesman
said.
The company said a technology breakthrough was achieved by creating a
session between digital set-top boxes, or PC-based clients, with Concurrent's
video server. Subscribers can record or pause a broadcast TV event and play it
back at another time.
Concurrent, through its Vivid Technology unit, works with a number of
companies that offer set-tops.
Among them is Scientific Atlanta (NYSE: SFA), which announced Monday it
has developed technology that will reduce the cost to cable operators of
deploying interactive video-on-demand service to their customers' homes.
Scientific-Atlanta calls its technology a MQAM modulator, which will be
available in the first half of 2000.
Both companies will be showing off their latest at the Western Cable Show,
which starts on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Concurrent said its technology will allow customers to "make appointments"
with their favorite shows and mark them for future playback. This is an important
plus for cable networks, the company says, because for the first time they will
know in advance who is watching what programs.
Concurrent shares, which had been trading near a 52-week high, dropped below
the mark for a while in Monday trading, but ended the day at $17.94, their high
price for the year. Concurrent's 52-week low is $3. |
