Advanced Digital Television Services Targets Microware's DAVID Set - Top Box Software
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who's decoders?
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12/16/97
Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 1997, Business Wire)
DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 1997--
Hongkong Telecom IMS Deployment Showcases Leading-Edge Java
and ATM Technologies
Hongkong Telecom IMS' (HKTIMS) Interactive Television (iTV) services, recently launched with the trial deployment of advanced digital set - top boxes, is powered by Microware System Corporation's DAVID system software. HKTIMS' deployment is the first to offer consumer television applications created with the popular Java programming language and transported with ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) technology. DAVID-based set - top boxes provided by NEC, a DAVID licensee, are the first commercially deployed consumer appliances embedded with Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Java Virtual Machine and featuring ATM support, both enabled by Microware's leading OS-9 real-time operating system.
"This is an historic event in embedded software, because it takes two advanced technologies--Java and ATM--out of the PC/desktop realm and into the high-volume consumer electronics arena for the first time," said Denis Connaghan, chief operating officer at Microware. "Microware is proud to be a part of Hongkong Telecom IMS' groundbreaking initiative, which is proving that cutting edge technology can deliver appealing, affordable, and easy-to-use services to consumers via the most universal platform in the world, the television."
"The selection of Microware's DAVID system software for our television set - top boxes was critical to our initial success," said Mark Evensen, senior manager of Hongkong Telecom IMS, the division of Hongkong Telecom responsible for interactive television services. "With the help of Microware and our other partners, we have successfully integrated Java, ATM, and other sophisticated technologies into our advanced broadband network, making Hong Kong the world's first major city where fully interactive services are commercially available."
HKTIMS' iTV services have already been introduced for trial, initially featuring video-on-demand, music-on-demand, and home shopping. HKT plans to extend the range of services next year to include network games, home banking, and broadband Internet access. HKTIMS is planning to achieve a customer base of 300,000 by the turn of the century.
Microware Systems Corporation
Microware (NASDAQ: MWAR) develops, markets, and supports sophisticated real-time operating system software and development tools for advanced consumer, communications, and industrial products, including devices for the emerging Internet, wireless communications, and digital television markets. Microware, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, was founded in 1977 and has technology and sales offices throughout the United States as well as in England; France; Germany; and Japan. Additional information on Microware can be found on the World Wide Web at www.microware.com.
Microware, the Microware logo, OS-9 and DAVID are registered trademarks of Microware Systems Corporation. Java and all Java-based trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Note: The statements in this release concerning the outlook for the referenced project are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including successful development and customer acceptance of the products and services discussed.
CONTACT: Microware Systems Corporation, Des Moines Sara Payne, 515/327-2449 sarap@microware.com or Deb Fry, 515/327-2338 debf@microware.com
08:59 EST DECEMBER 16, 1997 |
