another PR without NUKO's name but...
SINGAPORE, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Acorn, Digital, Ericsson and Oracle
announce high bandwidth video and Internet/Intranet access for telcos, cable
TV operators and ISPs. The solution, using Acorn set top boxes and Oracle
software, features state-of-the art ATM switching and computer technology
enabling new, revenue generating, video rich services including interactive
television. The infrastructure, combining Web access with mass market TV
distribution, supports cost-effective delivery of high-dedicated bandwidth
Internet services to homes and businesses.
The four companies have jointly developed the system that will enable
subscribers to interactively search, select, and view a range of
"infotainment" services including news, movies, information and educational
programs using Internet technology. For the first time ever, services will
include full-motion MPEG-2 video delivered over ATM.
Subscribers access the Internet through Acorn set top boxes with the
ability to search content, including video material, from dynamically created
web-based menus. In the case of movies, when a title is selected, the video
will stream from DIGITAL AlphaServer systems running Oracle Video Server
software through the Ericsson network infrastructure to the Acorn set-top
boxes for display on subscribers' televisions. The Ericsson Multi Service ANx
access network is designed to work with multiple network topologies.
The Acorn set top box (STB22) provides access to video in the home and is
based on the ARM 7500 FE processor. The STB22, the company's
second-generation intelligent digital set-top box is designed to meet the
demands of interactive television. "Our expertise lies in developing
low-cost, high performance interactive products that are not only powerful but
also deliver high-definition graphics on low-quality monitors and TVs," said
Kevin Coleman, Head of Communications, at Acorn. "We are responsible for
producing the blueprint for the world's first network computer for Oracle and
have since designed and licensed a wide range of Internet appliances for
clients world-wide".
All companies involved are working on solutions for public network
operators and cable TV companies. A unique aspect of this solution is the
ability to deliver a variety of services into the home in a cost-effective
manner using a single interface adapter, thereby eliminating the need for
multiple access boxes for each service.
"The ATM based DIGITAL server is a perfect complement for the switching
infrastructure provided by ANx. The ability of the DIGITAL/Oracle server
solution to stream MPEG-2 video over the ATM network will really make the web
come to life," said Per-Olof Sjoberg, Director of Broadband access at
Ericsson.
The Ericsson ANx system is a complete end-to-end ATM based access system
designed to provide multiple services to residential and small business users,
simultaneously.
"DIGITAL's server and Internet networking platform is particularly
well-suited to the Ericsson ANx broadband access system, hosting a myriad of
new applications that take advantage of the high speed capabilities in the
access network," Per-Olof added. The ANx system is built with the mass market
in mind and includes a range of network terminals, central office multiplexors
and element management system. A scaleable, open architecture allows for a
continuous introduction of new services and subscriber growth.
"DIGITAL and Oracle have taken advantage of Ericsson's ATM technology to
create video-based services that can run without modification over both hybrid
fiber-coax and ADSL networks," said Doug Smith, Manager of DIGITAL's media
business segment. "Ericsson's ANx multi-service access system clears the way
for telcos and cable TV operators to offer high-speed Internet and video
services to their subscribers."
The Web paradigm of client-independent applications upon which the
solution is based, provides access to a rich variety of mainstream
applications and authoring tools, an intuitive easy-to-use user interface, as
well as a rapidly growing pool of authoring expertise. The server-based HTML
environment makes it much easier to develop and deploy new services, and is a
significant enabler for low-cost clients.
"This new generation of high-speed Internet services require Oracle's
powerful and scaleable Network Computing software to support thousands of
users demanding instant access from devices as varied as PCs, NCs and set-top
boxes," said Mark Porter, Vice President, video server development, Oracle
Corporation. "The Oracle Video Server is the high-data rate streaming video
engine powering the TV/Web convergence paradigm."
Acorn has many global partners and strategic relationships in the
interactive TV and network appliance markets and these also include Alcatel,
nCUBE and Sun Microsystems, in addition to Digital and Ericsson. Partners
using Acorn technology at the Asia Telecom '97 exhibition (World Trade Centre,
Singapore, 10th to 14th June 1997) are Alcatel stand number 3018 and Sun on
stand number 4040.
About Acorn:
Acorn Group plc, head-quartered in Cambridge, UK, is one of the world's
leading developers and suppliers of innovative technology designs and
consultancy. Acorn is at the core of some of the world's best digital
technology products.
Acorn's home page can be accessed at acorn.com
NOTE: Acorn is a trademark of Acorn Group plc. All other brand names
mentioned are trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby
acknowledged.
SOURCE Acorn Computer Group plc
CONTACT: Europe, Holly James, 44-0-181-242-4104, or
hollyj@text100.co.uk, or Michelle Carney, 44-0-181-242-4181, both of Text 100
Ltd.; or USA, Julie Plimpton, 206-443-8004, or juliep@text100.com, or David
Dennis, 206-443-8004, or davidd@text100.com, both of Text 100 Corp.; Asia,
Henry Kim of ConhanCo Ltd., Korea, 82-2-3444-2328, or
HENRYK@chollian.dacom.co.kr; or Masuo Yoshimoto of MP Technology Inc., Japan,
81-3-3358-9800; or Eric Chou of Lumax Technology Inc., Taiwan, 81-8-448-8818,
all for Acorn; or Terri Richardson, Segment Manager, Public Internet,
33-4-92-95-5788, or Frank Yeo, Marcoms Specialist ASEAN Region, 65-390-7861,
both of DIGITAL; or Per-Olof Sjoberg, Director, Broadband Access of ERICSSON,
46-8-719-0491; or Anne O'Leary, Public Relations of Oracle Corporation,
415-506-3574 |
