Major Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Support Java Technology for Digital Television
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 13, 1999--
Sony, Philips, and Matsushita Among Supporters of Java Technology
as a Software Standard for the Digital Television Market
Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced the support of key companies involved in the digital television industry including Hongkong Telecom, LG Electronics, Matsushita, Motorola, OpenTV, Philips, Sony, and Toshiba in the development of the Java TV(TM) Application Programming Interface (API).
This API will extend the Java(TM) platform to enable the secure delivery of the most dynamic and compelling interactive television content and services. This working group, including Sun and the above named industry leaders, is developing the Java TV API to be incorporated into global digital television standards. The first draft of this API is expected to be released for public review by end of first quarter, 1999.
"The Java platform has become a preferred solution for the development and deployment of interactive digital television content," said Mark Tolliver, president of Sun Microsystems' Consumer and Embedded team. "Sun and key companies in the industry are working together to deliver the right Java technology-based solution for digital television standards. We are confident that the digital television market and its relevant standards bodies will adopt this superior solution."
"We believe that Java is one of the key software technologies for digital TV. The Java TV API will be an important addition to the technology portfolio that will be available for future Matsushita products. We support Java TV API along with other proposed TV-related industrial standards," said Yoshiaki Kushiki, Director, Multimedia Development Center of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
"Java technology provides a natural de-coupling layer that allows the content industry to create compelling applications in a stable and rich environment, while enabling suppliers like Philips to independently evolve the underlying product architectures, providing continuous improvement in functionality, performance and product integration. Therefore, Philips is pushing forward in this direction in a direct dialog with Java TV API, as well as by contributing in various established standardization bodies," said Roel Kramer, chief technology officer, Philips Consumer Electronics.
"Sony will play an active role in the development of Java TV API and hopes to contribute to the activities of open standards bodies such as Digital Video Broadcasting. We bring a unique combination of electronics products and technologies, pictures, TV programming and music content. Our strengths in these areas, along with our experience in establishing open worldwide standards, will enable implementations of the Java TV API to offer innovative content to consumers in the U.S. digital television market," said Gary Myer, president of Digital Network Solutions Company of America, a division of Sony Electronics.
Java TV API
A set-top box or digital television that supports the Java TV API will offer consumers interactive television content such as enhanced television, Video-On-Demand (VOD), Electronic Programming Guides (EPGs), and interactive multi-camera-angle sporting events. The API will also address other functions such as audio/video streaming, conditional access, and access to in-band and out-of-band data channels.
In addition, the Java TV API will provide an independent software platform to access the hardware features that are unique to televisions, such as tuner control for channel changing and on-screen graphics, while maintaining portability across operating systems and microprocessors.
The Java TV API is intended to address the needs of manufacturers, system operators, and content providers as they seek standards to deliver interactive content securely to consumers via cable set-top boxes, satellite receivers, and digital televisions.
Manufacturers will benefit by delivering Java technology-enabled televisions and set-top boxes to the market place which support the most compelling interactive television content for their consumers. The Java TV API is intended to enable manufacturers to introduce new products into the market that can evolve to support new forms of interactive content as it becomes available.
The system operators will benefit from the ability to deliver their value-added services to a diverse array of Java technology-enabled devices in their networks, regardless of the underlying microprocessor or operating system on those devices. This enables television service providers to save time and money by avoiding porting costs for value-added services and applications to new platforms. It also allows them the freedom to deploy competitive set-top box solutions within their networks. Finally, they will benefit from compatibility with existing interactive television content that may already be deployed in their systems.
The creation of a universal standard will broaden the market opportunities for interactive television content creators to develop content once and securely deploy it to a wide range of Java technology-enabled digital television receivers. In addition, content developers will benefit from the ability to utilize a true object-oriented language allowing them to reuse existing software components to rapidly and cost-effectively deliver their interactive services to market. Finally, developers can create more compelling, differentiated content for their viewing audience.
"Efforts to bring together the content provider, broadcaster, and equipment manufacturer communities on one open standard are just what the industry needs in order to speed the development of next generation interactive services," said Sean Kaldor, vice president consumer devices and worldwide PC tracking for International Data Corporation.
About Sun
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer(TM)" has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $10 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the World Wide Web at sun.com
Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web at sun.com. For inquiries about Java technologies and services, telephone 1-800-528-2763 (512/434-1591 for international callers) or visit java.sun.com.
Note to Editors: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Java, Java TV, 'Write Once, Run Anywhere,' PersonalJava, The Network Is The Computer, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc., in the United States and in other countries. -0- *T
MAJOR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS ENDORSE JAVA TECHNOLOGY FOR DIGITAL TELEVISION -- QUOTE ADDENDUM
LG ELECTRONICS
"LG Electronics is excited about the opportunity to work with Sun Microsystems to create an API specifically for the digital television market. We believe Java technology will help accelerate time to market and enhance innovation in the marketplace," said Woo Hyun Paik, chief technology officer of LG Electronics. "Sun's intention to create an API for digital television by working with standards bodies, will bring Java technologies' 'Write Once, Run Anywhere'(TM) benefits to the digital television market."
Company Contact: Mark Simpson Phone: 609/716-3501 Email: msimpson@lgerca.com
HONGKONG TELECOM
"We're excited about working with and supporting Sun Microsystems in creating an API especially for the digital television market," says Tim Warren of Hongkong Telecom. "Hongkong Telecom currently has a Java technology-based Interactive Television system deployed to 80,000 homes in Hong Kong. As a service provider we expect to be able to benefit directly from the availability of third party content built upon this standard platform."
Company Contact: Tim Warren Phone: 011-852-2883-9451 Email: twarren@netvigator.com
OPENTV
"We are pleased to work with and support the Sun Microsystems PersonalJava(TM) technology to extend our proven DVB compliant Interactive TV software offerings for set-top boxes and digital televisions. Our large global customer base will benefit from the upgrade roadmap that will include Java technology, enhancing their ability to develop and deliver a greater range of services that take advantage of widely adopted Internet standards" said Jan Steenkamp, chief executive officer for OpenTV, Inc. "The large Java developer community and the enormous market of digital television, will accelerate the development of an entirely new class of applications and services focused on the living room and the enhancement of television entertainment."
Company Contact: Mary Montes Phone: 650/429-5556 Email: mary@opentv.com
TOSHIBA
"Through its marketing efforts of digital set top boxes, Toshiba comes to believe in the necessity for a standard Java API to control digital media streams. Toshiba welcomes standardization of broadly supported APIs such as the Java TV API, which will help to accelerate the launch of the new market," said Naotake Kurotsu, general manager, Computer & Network Products Division, Toshiba Corporation
Company Contact: Taro Nakamura Phone: 011-813-3457-2649 Email: taro.nakamura@toshiba.co.jp *T
CONTACT:
Burson-Marsteller for Sun Microsystems
Jason Taylor, 310/226-3011
jason_taylor@bm.com |
