Not too bad. A little over 4 months to go from the ZiVA chip to a board. More open Cable............................
ijumpstart.com
Silicon Valley Eyes Set-top Market: Microsoft, Intel Join OpenCable Project
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Cable ops should see stepped-up competition for digital set-top software and hardware after Intel's [INTC] bold break from its traditional alignment with software giant Microsoft [MSFT]. Intel is hitching its star to Network Computer Inc, a company that is majority-owned by Microsoft rival Oracle [ORCL]. Intel backed an NCI proposal submitted to CableLabs OpenCable initiative Friday. Teaming with a complementary company makes sense during the proposal phase to pull all the necessary pieces together, says Intel. The notion that "anyone can work with anyone," is the beauty of open architecture," said a spokesperson. While one company may eventually dominate the set-top industry, as Microsoft has done with operating systems, the goal of OpenCable is to develop an industry consensus that will allow multiple vendors to produce products for cable systems, says Jerry Bennington, CableLabs snr vp Internet technology. He has received a "pretty tall stack" of proposals, some with very aggressive schedules detailing products that could hit the market within a year. He expects the cable industry will accomplish more on TV screens than previously thought possible, since many of the companies submitting proposals are quite adept at mapping web content on a TV screen. In addition, digital set-tops will become increasingly software-intensive as processors speeds increase. The involvement of so many companies offering new business opportunities can only mean one thing for cable-money will be made. In addition to the computer giants and traditional cable industry suppliers, Bennington expects companies like Wink, Worldgate and consumer electronic manufacturers to submit ideas. |
