MoreCom Promotes 'Seamless' Integration of Web, DTV
12/14/98
DV Business
(c) 1998 Phillips Business Information, Inc.
Cable operators were confronted with a slew of Internet-access services for digital set-top boxes at the Western Cable Show in Anaheim, Calif. recently. While Microsoft's [MSFT] launch of a new version of Windows CE for set-tops and WebTV alliance with Scientific- Atlanta [SFA] received most of the attention, MoreCom, a small Horsham, Pa. start-up with impressive credentials, was making some waves of its own with the introduction of its MoreCast service that brings Internet access to existing broadband networks.
MoreCom demonstrated the service at the show over Pioneer [PIO] and Zenith digital set-tops, using C - Cube Microsystems' [CUBE] latest generation digital set-top chip, AViA@TV (DVB, 11.30.98).
What sets MoreCom's service apart from existing Internet access services over TV is its ability to seamlessly integrate Internet access with digital programming over broadband networks.
"We're taking advantage of developments in the headend and digital set-tops to offer a solution that provides Internet access on equipment that's ready to deploy now," Miron says.
MoreCast also allows Internet access while viewing a TV picture simultaneously, over broadband, another feature unique to the service, according to Miron, who developed the "picture in picture" technology in the early 1980's for Philips [PHG].
"The web information complements the video," Miron says. "The consumer doesn't have to choose between the Web and the program."
It is no coincidence that MoreCom is located in the same town as digital set-top giant General Instrument Corp.[GIC]. The company was founded in 1997 by two GI veterans, Miron and Weizong Mao, who also worked on MPEG technology while at Philips with Miron. While at GI, Miron developed cable modem technology and terminals for GI's interactive TV initiatives.
MoreCom is partnering with GI, which is pursuing several options for its digital set-top software, including an October investment in Spyglass [SPYG], a developer of Web access software for digital set- tops and an agreement to use Sony's [SNE] Aperios middleware announced earlier this month.
Miron says they are also pursuing partnerships with Broadcom, ATI and Philips and will announce an international customer before the end of the year. The company expects to complete field trials for MoreCast by Q2, 1999 with deployment by Q4, 1999.
(MoreCom, Ami Miron, 215/773-9400)
|
