Broadband News
September 29, 2007
Microsoft has started phasing in a slick new version of its Live Search service in a bid to gain ground on leading Internet search rivals Google and Yahoo. Microsoft's improved Live Search will be available throughout the USA in a week’s time. By the end of October it will be available globally. Live Search was demonstrated to invited guests in Mountain View, ...
Substantial investment by Microsoft to improve Live Search
by Lin FreestoneMicrosoft has started phasing in a slick new version of its Live Search service in a bid to gain ground on leading Internet search rivals Google and Yahoo. Microsoft's improved Live Search will be available throughout the USA in a week’s time. By the end of October it will be available globally. Live Search was demonstrated to invited guests in Mountain View, ...
Japanese ISP offers download of DVD-quality films
by Lin FreestoneIn Japan, standard internet connections are fast enough to deliver more than most people use. Average ADSL download speeds are in the region of 50Mbit/s, and fibre connections are often twice that speed. To take advantage of this bandwidth advantage, KDDI, a Japanese internet service provider, is offering DVD-quality films to download for the equivalent cost of £2.15. The offer is ...
September 28, 2007
According to new research from Vividas, a UK developer of video streaming solutions, broadcasters are missing-out on online revenue opportunities and are uncertain on how to use digital content to generate revenues. While most of the broadcasters surveyed were investigating online advertising models, only 7% considered Pay Per View (PPV) as a way of gaining revenue. Although 95% of the broadcasters surveyed ...
Broadcasters miss-out on online revenues
by Janet HarrisAccording to new research from Vividas, a UK developer of video streaming solutions, broadcasters are missing-out on online revenue opportunities and are uncertain on how to use digital content to generate revenues. While most of the broadcasters surveyed were investigating online advertising models, only 7% considered Pay Per View (PPV) as a way of gaining revenue. Although 95% of the broadcasters surveyed ...
Panasonic TH58PZ750U Plasma TV
by Franz Bicar
Movie images are some of the most difficult for TV displays to reproduce and the Panasonic TH58PZ750U plasma did just that. With the 58-inch TH58PZ750U plasma HDTV, Panasonic has achieved picture quality that takes your breath away.
This full HD 1080p native resolution set displays a maximum of 67.8 ...Microsoft extender links computer with HDTV
by Janet Harris
Microsoft has announced new Extenders for Windows Media Center, which connects a broadband-connected PC to a home entertainment centre.
The technology provides easy access to HDTV, video formats including DivX, music, photos and other media, from any TV in a house, via a network connection.
The Extenders make it possible to pause ...Apple update disables hacked iPhones
by Janet Harris
iPhone owners who installed unauthorised software to unlock the device, are now finding that the phone becomes inoperable when they install a planned update from Apple.
Earlier this week Apple warned that iPhone owners, who had installed software which enables the phone to work on any service provider with a standard GSM ...London public sector broadband network launched
by Jan HarrisA broadband network connecting public services across London has been officially launched. The London Public Services Network provides a secure way for public bodies, such as local authorities, central government and the NHS, to share data. The network will allow public-sector organisations to efficiently share information across organisational boundaries. London councils will also benefit from cost savings through shared services and the network ...
September 27, 2007
Italian company KDev has developed a Linux 2.6 device which allows camera-phone photos to be easily and instantly uploaded to the web.
With its GSM/GPRS cellular modem card, KDev's FoxBox MMS accepts photos sent via multimedia messaging service (MMS).
As MMS messages are usually free to receive, KDev suggests that it would be inexpensive for ...
Upload photos to web with KDev device
by Janet Harris
Italian company KDev has developed a Linux 2.6 device which allows camera-phone photos to be easily and instantly uploaded to the web.
With its GSM/GPRS cellular modem card, KDev's FoxBox MMS accepts photos sent via multimedia messaging service (MMS).
As MMS messages are usually free to receive, KDev suggests that it would be inexpensive for ...Ofcom pushes for high-speed network
by Jan HarrisCommunications regulator, Ofcom, has called on the telecoms industry to invest in next-generation networks to stop the UK falling behind Europe and the US. The regulator has launched a two-month consultation with the telecoms industry and the public, to gather ideas for the proposed high-speed network. The UK's current network is working at full capacity due to the increasing popularity of video-on-demand ...
Anevia powers BBC IPTV service
by Janet HarrisIPTV products from telecom equipment supplier, Anevia, have been deployed by Siemens Business Services to introduce an IPTV service for the BBC. Siemens has installed Anevia solutions in BBC head offices in the UK, offering BBC staff contact with BBC and other channels output at their desktop and through IP set-top boxes. The technology will enable the distribution of Arabic TV channels ...
Expansion in India’s IPTV market by Chinese telecom
by Lin FreestoneHuawei, a leading Chinese telecommunications network provider, is planning to move into the relatively unexplored Indian market with its IPTV products. The company anticipates that the potential of IPTV products in India is immense. Although India has not grown very fast in terms of IPTV connectivity, it is considered there is a huge requirement for its products. The proposed move assumes ...
Price of LCD TVs expected to fall
by Janet Harris
LCD TVs with 46- and 52-inch screens are expected to drop in price now a large new manufacturing plant in Asan city, South Korea, has started producing the flat-panel screens in large volumes.
The plant manufactures sheets of LCD 'motherglass', from which eight 46-inch or six 52-inch panels can be cut.
Previously ...Invitel: no public IPTV plans
by Brian TurnerHungarian telco Invitel have distanced themselves from earlier reported claims of preparing a host of IPTV services. Sourced from an earlier interview with Chris Dziadul, it was suggested that Invitel had a clear IPTV strategy that had been developed in concert with Video on Demand (VOD) services. However, a spokesperson for parent company HTCC, Brigitta Kedves, said the company distanced itself from ...
Toshiba REGZA 52HL167 LCD HDTV
by Franz Bicar
The latest crop of LCD panels is especially interesting because many employ new technologies, like LED backlighting or a 120-Hertz refresh rate, designed to improve performance issues that plagued older LCD TVs. Consequently, most LCD manufacturers have also released a step-down line that removes these top-shelf features and, by ...Sharp LC65D93U HDTV
by Franz Bicar
Sharp offers up its new contemporary classic, the LC65D93U HDTV, offering the most elegant, cutting-edge flat panel television available. This model sets the standard in HDTV style and innovation, with a striking piano black finish, bottom-mounted speakers, brilliant color reproduction, and spectacular picture quality. In addition to providing high ...
September 26, 2007
At the 2007 Wireless & Digital Cities Congress in Cannes, executives representing local government and technology providers from 53 countries and 107 cities across Europe will be discussing the future for municipal digital wireless networks. An independent survey conducted by conference organisers across Europe’s government and IT community has revealed a commitment to deploying local government wireless networks. Internal productivity issues and ...
European governments are deploying municipal wireless
by Lin FreestoneAt the 2007 Wireless & Digital Cities Congress in Cannes, executives representing local government and technology providers from 53 countries and 107 cities across Europe will be discussing the future for municipal digital wireless networks. An independent survey conducted by conference organisers across Europe’s government and IT community has revealed a commitment to deploying local government wireless networks. Internal productivity issues and ...
Draft paper on India’s IPTV expected soon
by Lin FreestoneThe Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is likely to issue its draft paper on IPTV services within the next month. The paper will set out the guidelines for this much-awaited service. The issue has been engaging the attention of TRAI for some time, mainly due to lack of clarity on who can provide IPTV services. In this context, the regulator ...
LG 20LS7D LCD TV
by Franz Bicar
LG is one of the fastest growing electronics companies in the world and their products strive to confirm that idea. The 20LS7D is an LG LCD model featuring 1366 x 768p high definition resolution, LG's exclusive XD Engine, and a wide degree viewing angle, an HDMI input, built-in ...Toshiba targets smartphone market
by Janet Harris
Toshiba is building on its strength in the laptop market with an expansion into the smartphone arena.
The company is developing a sub-brand called Portege and releasing two slider phones for business users - the G500 and G900.
The phones are rich in features suggested by respondents to a survey of business ...Skinkers readies Livestation for launch
by Janet HarrisSkinkers, which demonstrated its peer-to-peer (P2P) live television streaming platform, LiveStation, at the IBC conference earlier in September, is in final negotiations with TV stations. The platform will be unveiled at the trial launch date of the service in coming weeks. Skinkers expects the service to be available for public use from 2008. While P2P internet TV services such as Joost, Zattoo, ...
Internet censorship wave by government in China
by Lin FreestoneIt appears that the Chinese authorities are conducting an unusually harsh crackdown on the Internet, closing tens of thousands of websites that had allowed visitors to post their opinions. The current censorship campaign seems more indiscriminate than usual. It is speculated that the new wave of censorship could be linked to October's 17th Communist Party Congress, a key political gathering that ...
Sohonet upgrades London network
by Jan HarrisSohonet, which provides network services to global media companies, has selected technology from Foundry Networks Inc to help cope with increasing customer demand for high speed bandwidth. Foundry Networks Inc's NetIron MLX metro routers and FastIron Edge switch X (FESX) series switches will provide enhanced network performance, based on 10 gigabit Ethernet, to Sohonet's customers. Sohonet serves over 300 leading companies including ...
BBC Trust approves HD channel
by Janet Harris
The BBC Trust has provisionally approved the BBC's plans for a high definition channel, commenting that it would have high pubic value and would cause little adverse market impact.
However the Trust will not decide until next year whether the service will be launched on Freeview.
The channel is being tested on ...
September 25, 2007
Hungarian telco Invitel plans to launch an IPTV service by the end of this year. Invitel will initially offer 77 TV channels in basic, expanded and thematic packages, and also a VOD library of 100 titles. The service will comprise part of a triple play offer, and will initially be offered in parts of the country where the telco has exclusivity. Invitel ...
Invitel plans to launch IPTV in Hungary
by Lin FreestoneHungarian telco Invitel plans to launch an IPTV service by the end of this year. Invitel will initially offer 77 TV channels in basic, expanded and thematic packages, and also a VOD library of 100 titles. The service will comprise part of a triple play offer, and will initially be offered in parts of the country where the telco has exclusivity. Invitel ...
Giorgio Armani-Samsung phone announced
by Janet Harris
Giorgio Armani and Samsung announced the new Giorgio Armani-Samsung luxury mobile phone at a press briefing during Women's Fashion Week in Milan.
The device brings together high-fashion and advanced electronics. The exterior of the phone, its graphical user interface and audio user interface are designed with Giorgio Armani's elegant and modern simplicity.
The phone features ...Orange reveals plan for quadplay bundles
by Janet HarrisMobile phone company, Orange, is planning to expand into the digital TV market and offer the service as a quadplay bundle. The company has just launched a new home phone service, Home Max, which bundles broadband, line rental and calls in one package. A new customer support centre has been established in Belfast to support the service. Customers are also able to ...
Blyk ad-funded mobile network launched
by Jan HarrisMobile Virtual Network Operator, Blyk, has announced its UK launch after months of delays. Blyk is an invitation-only MVNO. It aims to link brands and young consumers - sending adverts to mobile phones, while offering free phone calls and texts. Blyk gives advertisers direct access to the 16-24 year old market. The service can help advertisers create brand awareness, build ...
Adobe Premier Elements supports Blu-ray exclusively
by Janet Harris
The newly launched version 6 of Adobe's Premier Elements software, does not support HD-DVD.
The Pocket-lint site reports that Adobe has succumbed to pressure from Sony, to support only the rival Blu-ray HD format with its latest Premier Elemenets movie-editing software, although Adobe has not endorsed this view.
Adobe works closely with ...Dell W4200 HD Plasma TV
by Franz Bicar
Everyone is getting into the HDTV business one way or another. We've heard of manufacturers that 5 to 10 years ago, we didn't even know existed. Now, there's a huge market for it and even PC makers are getting in on the act. Dell is one of these manufacturers ...Partnerships needed for ISP growth in Africa
by Lin FreestoneAnalysts have indicated that Internet service providers in Africa will have to expand their horizons if they want to see continued growth. While Africa is seeing fast Internet uptake levels, poor telecoms infrastructure is hindering penetration rates even as the restrictive regulatory frameworks contain market growth. The main factors dampening uptake is the widespread poverty that makes Internet services unaffordable, the ...
French operators form new telecoms association
by Lin FreestoneFrance's telecom and internet operators have created a joint industry association in advance of talks with the government and consumer groups. The new French telecoms federation will bring together existing industry bodies and its members will include leading operators like France Telecom, Vivendi's SFR, Bouygues unit Bouygues Telecom, Iliad and Neuf Cegetel. Talks have been organised by the government to take place ...
Vizio L42 HDTV
by Franz Bicar
The Vizio L42 HDTV looks quite stylish but it is certainly not the most stunningly beautiful TV around. The L42 is packed with a black frame surrounding the 42-inch-diagonal screen mounted just over silver speakers. The most prominent thing on the frame is the HDMI and Vizio logos. The ...
September 24, 2007
According to a survey by Screen Digest, the UK market for online TV will be worth £181 million by 2011. However, the growth of movie downloads is expected to be much slower. Screen Digest expects music to continue to dominate UK online distribution, growing from $90 million to $571.2 million by 2011, when an estimated 191 million single tracks and 21 ...
UK online TV market to grow to £181 million by 2011
by Janet HarrisAccording to a survey by Screen Digest, the UK market for online TV will be worth £181 million by 2011. However, the growth of movie downloads is expected to be much slower. Screen Digest expects music to continue to dominate UK online distribution, growing from $90 million to $571.2 million by 2011, when an estimated 191 million single tracks and 21 ...
RIM BlackBerry 8310 Curve available in UK
by Janet Harris
RIM's BlackBerry 8310 Curve smartphone is currently available for free on a £35 per month contract from Vodafone.
The 810 is the first RIM Blackberry with 3G internet. It features email, and a built-in GPS receiver which makes travel easy with Vodafone's sat-nav software.
The device also includes a music and video ...2008 launch for BBC, ITV and Channel 4 HD channels
by Janet Harris
The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have now all revealed plans to launch free high definition channels early in 2008.
Pay TV platform BSkyB, is currently leading the way with HD in the UK, with 292,000 HD subscribers as of June.
The BBC's HD channel will comprise nine-hours of ...Google could bid for UK wireless spectrum
by Jan HarrisAccording to a report in the Guardian, Google could bid for wireless spectrum in the UK if Ofcom liberalises the 900MHz and 1,800MHz frequencies. The regulator is considering the possibility of liberalising the wireless spectrum to accelerate the roll-out of high-speed broadband across the UK. However it would also open up the UK market to rival wireless technologies such as Wi-Max. Google ...
Disney agrees Finnish VOD deal
by Lin FreestoneChannel 4 Finland, also known as Nelonen, and Disney-ABC International Television have agreed a deal whereby US shows will be available on-demand to Finnish IPTV viewers days after their US TV broadcast. This is the first time Disney has introduced multiple network series to an international market so soon after broadcast in the US. Channel 4 Finland’s IPTV service will launch an ...
2.5 million German IPTV subscribers forecast by 2012
by Lin FreestoneAccording to a study conducted by consultancy Goldmedia and supported by the German Association of Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media, there will be 2.5 million homes subscribing to IPTV services in Germany by the year 2012. Annual turnover generated by IPTV services in Germany is expected to reach €420m by 2012. Approximately 100,000 homes in Germany are forecast to subscribe ...
Toshiba 42HL167 LCD TV
by Franz Bicar
Toshiba 42HL167 LCD TV creates superb pictures with its 1080p native resolution. With its enhanced backlight technology and the capabilities to produce colour accuracy, this LCD TV creates colours which are lively and realistic. The thin, black, glossy frame that surrounds the screen and the piano black swivel ...
September 22, 2007
FastWeb, the main alternative telecommunications operator to wide band on fixed net in Italy, is to launch an IPTV package for €20 a month, in order to capture attract viewers who do not wish to pay for a triple-play package but require more than terrestrial offerings. The new package will include all the national terrestrial channels, including Rai, Mediaset, La7 and ...
New IPTV package in Italy from FastWeb
by Lin FreestoneFastWeb, the main alternative telecommunications operator to wide band on fixed net in Italy, is to launch an IPTV package for €20 a month, in order to capture attract viewers who do not wish to pay for a triple-play package but require more than terrestrial offerings. The new package will include all the national terrestrial channels, including Rai, Mediaset, La7 and ...
France Telecom launches Orange Sports TV
by Lin FreestoneFrance Telecom has launched Orange Sports TV, an IPTV service. The channel will feature sports news, broadcast on television via the Internet and direct to Orange mobile 3G network subscribers. All content is being provided by Groupe Sporever, a French firm specialising in sports-related content, headed by the former director of sports at web France 2. Orange already has existing agreements for ...
September 21, 2007
3 has secured an exclusive deal with Sony Ericsson to offer a purple version of the K770 Cyber-shot camera phone.
The Sony Ericsson Purple K770 is 15 mm thin, with curved edges and a soft-touch finish.
The 3G phone features a 3.2 mega pixel, Cyber-shot auto focus camera, photo ...
3 offers Sony Ericsson K770 Cyber-Shot in purple
by Janet Harris
3 has secured an exclusive deal with Sony Ericsson to offer a purple version of the K770 Cyber-shot camera phone.
The Sony Ericsson Purple K770 is 15 mm thin, with curved edges and a soft-touch finish.
The 3G phone features a 3.2 mega pixel, Cyber-shot auto focus camera, photo ...Ten Alps launches Kent TV
by Janet HarrisBob Geldof's production company, Ten Alps, has launched Kent TV, the first local authority broadband TV channel in the UK. The council funded, on-demand channel is available at www.kenttv.com. It features local information and council listings, with news stories from local newspaper, the Kent News. The channel is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Local people can contribute to the ...
Alcatel Lucent acquires UK IPTV firm
by Janet HarrisAlcatel-Lucent is acquiring Tamblin, a UK IPTV applications specialist for an undisclosed sum. Tamblin is the developer of the i-ZoneTV software platform, which enables IPTV operators and broadcasters to add interactive features to their IPTV services, including interactive advertising and audience response capabilities. The software makes it easy for IPTV users to find and interact with brands and entertainment they are interested ...
Pioneer announces UK release date for Kuro full HD plasmas
by Janet Harris
Pioneer has announced the UK launch date for its latest KURO high-definition plasma TVs.
The new products will be launched at a ‘Black Screen Party’ at Claridges in London, on 25 September.
Kuro means black in Japanese, and the TVs feature state of the art, intelligent technology, which displays ...Calls for pan-European telecoms regulator
by Jan HarrisNortel Networks' EMEA president, Darryl Edwards, called for the creation of a pan-European telecoms regulator this week, in an interview with total telecom www.totaltele.com. According to Edwards, not having a regulator to oversee Europe limits the development of hyperconnectivity, impedes competition and increases the cost of business. Edwards also claimed that some European operators were over-protective in providing network access to ...
HP MediaSmart 1080p LCD HDTV
by Franz Bicar
It looks like a standard LCD TV, but HP's MediaSmart 1080p LCD HDTV will bring you more than just television and DVDs. The SL4278 has a built-in network media device that allows you to create a wireless Ethernet connection to your computer. On a full 1080p high-definition screen, ...Samsung HP-S4273 Plasma HDTV
by Franz Bicar
Pixel counts are an important factor in an HDTV's overall image quality, however, other display characteristics such as picture contrast and color quality are more telling. The 42-inch Samsung HP-S4273 plasma HDTV may have fewer pixels than some of the latest high-resolution flat-panel displays, but it makes up ...
September 20, 2007
At the IBC2007 event in Amsterday, Inuk Networks announced the commercial launch of its igloo virtual set-top-box software solution. Igloo provides all the functionality of a standard IPTV set-box box and is now available as a stand-alone product. Inuk provides the UK’s Freewire IPTV to PC service, which is available to students at 49 UK universities. The company developed igloo because of ...
Inuk Networks announces launch of igloo set-top box
by Janet HarrisAt the IBC2007 event in Amsterday, Inuk Networks announced the commercial launch of its igloo virtual set-top-box software solution. Igloo provides all the functionality of a standard IPTV set-box box and is now available as a stand-alone product. Inuk provides the UK’s Freewire IPTV to PC service, which is available to students at 49 UK universities. The company developed igloo because of ...
Ofcom to allow 3G at 900Mhz
by Jan HarrisTelecoms regulator, Ofcom, is to liberalise parts of the UK radio spectrum in order to accelerate mobile broadband usage. The plan could generate an additional £6 billion for the economy. Ofcom wants Vodafone Group and Telefonica O2 to give up part of the radio spectrum they currently use, so that Ofcam can auction it to other operators. In return, Vodafone and ...
