It would appear there is increasing pressure upon MSFT in the set-top box software market. I would think it to be VERY INTERESTING should MUCP become involved with this new Linux movement:
Industry Leaders Form TV Linux Alliance ACTV, ATI Technologies, Broadcom Corporation, Concurrent Computer Corporation, Conexant, Convergence Integrated Media, DIVA, Excite@Home, iSurfTV, Liberate Technologies, Lineo, MontaVista, Motorola, nCUBE, Open
CHICAGO, NCTA Show, Jun 12, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Industry leaders
today announced the formation of the TV Linux Alliance, which will define a
standards-based Linux environment for the digital set-top box market.
Twenty-four leading technology suppliers to cable, satellite, and
telecommunications operators have allied to produce Linux standards designed to
improve time-to-market and product robustness in the advanced set-top box
market.
The alliance will define a standard application programming interface (API) that
will simplify the implementation of TV middleware and device drivers for the
Linux operating environment, allowing network operators to select from a variety
of vendors whose offerings are interoperable with the common API. The alliance
plans to capitalize on Linux designs already underway among various founders and
harmonize early work across the industry to ensure that Linux is delivered to
the digital set-top under a common framework of evolving standards-based
specifications. Linux is a proven, stable, and robust open source operating
system with a strong developer community, making it an intelligent choice for
network operators, infrastructure providers, and hardware manufacturers.
"The alliance will provide network operators with a standardized offering from
the Linux community for digital TV set-tops," said Yankee Group analyst Adi
Kishore. "A common solution built around a single framework will reduce the
integration issues that result in lengthy deployment time-frames for advanced
interactive applications, as well as middleware solutions and set-top boxes."
This single, standard API will help suppliers bring technologies to market more
quickly, while competing on software implementations supporting a common API. As
a result, the alliance expects this new standard to:
-- Provide a wider variety of set-top box software technologies
delivering a stable operating environment with decreased development
costs.
-- Leverage open solutions and build upon the work of software developers
worldwide.
-- Shorten time to market for chipset and middleware vendors and ease
integration of advanced set-top applications.
-- Support implementation of industry television standards such as
CableLabs' OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP), Digital Video
Broadcast's Multimedia Home Platform (DVB-MHP), and other middleware
specifications.
Broadband operators will benefit from lower operating system and development
costs, more rapid device driver support for new hardware features, fewer
repeated tasks in porting middleware solutions, and easier porting of additional
new interactive applications -- all of which can help them deliver the latest
advanced interactive services more quickly and less expensively.
Chipset manufacturers will benefit by the availability of a clear roadmap for
supplying Linux-based device driver support, and can expect shorter
time-to-market for their API-enabled hardware solutions. Middleware vendors will
benefit from more efficient and easier porting of middleware solutions and
integration of interactive applications.
"The world of digital television is rapidly changing and the formation of this
alliance will ensure that network operators have access to a solid offering set
from the Linux community for digital TV set-tops," said Jerry Krasner, executive
director, Electronics Market Forecasters (www.electronic-forecast.com). "No
single company has been able to own the digital TV market. The talents and
technologies of these companies rallying around a single framework for a robust
Linux solution should keep competition at the operating system layer thriving
while insuring that advanced interactive applications and middleware providers
along with set-top manufacturers can get solutions to market more quickly."
The new Linux specification developed by alliance members is expected to be
available later this year. Parties that are interested in tracking the progress
of the TV Linux Alliance or in accessing resulting specifications should visit
www.TVLinuxAlliance.org. A listing of all participating TV Linux Alliance
members and their press contacts can be found at www.TVLinuxAlliance.org.
TV LINUX ALLIANCE
Supporting Quotes from Alliance Founders
"ACTV has been a long-time creator of platform agnostic interactive television
solutions. We are excited to be a part of the Linux Alliance, as it works to
create an industry wide standard, allowing operators to select from a variety of
interoperable applications for interactive and enhanced media."
Kevin Liga, Chief Technology Officer, ACTV
"ATI already has substantial experience developing Linux set-top boxes for
several customers and this common framework will allow us to leverage our
solutions more rapidly while at the same time allowing for differentiation in
the market. ATI shares a common vision with the Alliance and we are pleased to
promote and contribute our expertise as a world leader in the supply of
graphics, video and multimedia solutions in this area to an effort that will
realize great benefits for the industry as a whole."
David Gould, Director of Software Marketing, ATI Technologies
"We're pleased to be a founding member of the TV Linux Alliance working to
define a standard API for Linux-based interactive TV applications. Conexant's
family of high-performance set-top box ICs will enable OEMs to deploy low cost
Linux-based boxes into the highest volume mainstream markets."
Stephen Blake, Vice President of Consumer Products, Conexant Digital
Infotainment Division
"We are excited about the TV Linux Alliance. TV Linux provides another option
for operators, offering them an open architecture that can support multiple ITV
applications. Concurrent looks forward to participating in the TV Linux
Alliance."
Fred Allegrezza, Vice President Business Development, Concurrent Computer
Corporation
"The TV Linux alliance is a continuation of our efforts to promote open
standards in the video-on-demand and iTV arena. We firmly believe the TV Linux
alliance will make it easier for video-on-demand and iTV companies to port their
applications to digital set-top boxes. We are pleased to be joining other
industry leaders in moving the market forward."
Michael Rose, Vice President of Business Development, DIVA
"The much-anticipated wide-scale deployment of interactive television depends in
large measure on industry acceptance of open standards, such as TV Linux.
iSurfTV is dedicated to supporting open standards and we look forward to working
other leading companies to help define this new standard."
Gene Feroglia, President and Chief Executive Officer, iSurfTV
"Liberate is thrilled to be a founding member of the TV Linux Alliance because
it's a way for the industry to promote open standards and help bring the power
of Linux to the world of digital television. Liberate has been a champion of
open standards since our inception and we believe the alliance is an important
initiative in offering network operators expanded choice and flexibility."
Mitchell Kertzman, Chief Executive Officer, Liberate Technologies
"As a leading embedded Linux systems software provider, we think that Linux can
bring tremendous benefits to the digital television industry with faster
development times, greater choice, more flexibility and lower costs. By helping
to establish and participate in the TV Linux Alliance, Lineo is taking an active
role in helping to drive change in the evolving television industry."
Bryan Sparks, CEO and Founder, Lineo, Inc.
"As a company powering the embedded revolution, we know the value that clear
standards give to every embedded developer. Engineering teams around the world
are developing the next generation of set-top box technology, and this TV Linux
alliance will help bring their new products to market not only more quickly, but
cost-effectively as well."
Jim Ready, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, MontaVista Software
"Motorola is proud to be part of this premier group of industry leaders
developing and delivering an API standard. Throughout our history, Motorola has
committed itself to the development of open standards, because we have seen
first-hand the value they deliver to the market -- increased competition, lower
development costs, and more efficient use of resources -- all of which lead to
faster time to market for the advanced broadband services that help drive
adoption. We are confident this new API standard developed by the TV Linux
Alliance will deliver the same winning combination of benefits for operators;
vendors; content developers; and ultimately, consumers."
Carl McGrath, Vice President and General Manager, Motorola Broadband's
DigiCable business unit
"nCUBE embraces open standards. It is the fastest means to significantly
broadening the application base and revenue potential associated with digital
cable services like VOD and PVR. Historically, nCUBE has successfully
interoperated with a wide array of advanced set-top box platforms across all
network environments, and through this alliance, we look forward to building
upon existing integration efforts with Linux-based set-top boxes."
Michael Pohl, President, NCUBE
"OpenTV is embracing the Linux operating system as part of maintaining solutions
that lead the interactive television space and deliver complete, standards-based
technology solutions."
Vincent Dureau, Chief Technology Officer, OpenTV
"Pace is delighted to be an active member of this alliance, working together
with other world leading industry players in giving full endorsement to Linux as
a totally viable option for digital TV operators."
Tim Fern, Chief Technology Officer, Pace Micro Technology
"Qpass is pleased to be one of the founding members of the TV Linux Alliance. In
collaboration with the industry-leading Alliance partners we look forward to
assist in creating common APIs for the interactive television industry. This
initiative will also help accelerate the creation of compelling commerce
applications for the iTV market."
Chase Franklin, Chairman and CEO, Qpass
"We are committed to Linux as a key element of our operating system strategy
going forward. A standards-based environment for the digital set-top box will
help us avoid compatibility issues, bring products to market quickly, and stay
focused on delivering real value to the consumer."
Don Woodward, Principal Software Architect, ReplayTV
"Sun has been committed to open standards for the digital television market
which led to the adoption of Java technology in industry standards such as
OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP), Advanced Television Systems Committee DTV
Application Software Environment (ATSC-DASE) and Digital Video Broadcast
Multimedia Home Platform (DVB-MHP). This effort will serve to accelerate the
implementation of open industry standards onto the Linux operating environment."
Rich Green, Vice President and General Manager - Java Software,
Sun Microsystems
"As a leading innovator in the implementation of Linux for set-top environments,
we are happy to lend our support by joining the TV Linux Alliance. Our
experience in providing consumers with a product that is stable, reliable and
easy to use, makes our contribution to the TV Linux API valuable. TiVo developed
one of the first consumer applications of Linux over three years ago and we are
proud to participate in an effort that will help proliferate open standards and
make TiVo's service easy to implement on any set-top environment."
Jim Barton, Chief Technology Officer, TiVo
"Trintech are delighted to be one of the founding members of the TV Linux
Alliance. As a leading provider of payment systems globally, Trintech supports
this open standard initiative which will aid the expansion of services and
applications offered by cable operators to their subscribers."
Trevor Healy, GM ePayments Group, Trintech
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SOURCE TV Linux Alliance
CONTACT: Marty O'Loughlin, 650-701-4078, moloughlin@tvlinuxalliance.org,
or Blake Stowell, 801-426-5001 ext. 321, blake.stowell@tvlinuxalliance.org,
both of TV Linux Alliance
/Company News On-Call: prnewswire.com or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 157202
URL: electronic-forecast.com
tvlinuxalliance.org |
