Cisco Simplifies Mobile Collaboration With First-of-Its-Kind HD Video-Capable Business Tablet

Cisco unveiled Cisco Cius, a first-of-its-kind mobile collaboration business tablet that delivers virtual desktop integration with anywhere, anytime access to the full range of Cisco collaboration and communication applications, including HD video.

Cisco Cius is an ultra-portable device weighing just 1.15lbs that extends the productivity benefits of Cisco collaboration applications to a highly secure mobile platform. In addition to full telepresence interoperability, Cisco Cius offers HD video streaming and real-time video, multi-party conferencing, email, messaging, browsing, and the ability to produce, edit and share content stored locally or centrally in the cloud.

Based on the Android operating system, Cisco Cius is an open platform for communication and collaboration whose form factor and applications are designed to more securely connect employees on-the-go with the right people in real-time, and to provide those workers with the ability to access and share the content they need from any place on the network.

Cisco Cius offers IT professionals new options when it comes to equipping mobile workers with computing devices. Through virtual desktop integration, Cisco Cius offers flexible computing options with cloud-based services, providing dramatically lower capital costs and cost-per-user for desktop maintenance.

Businesses can also tap into the growing Android developer community that is building business-class productivity applications with appropriate IT controls. The combination of applications and flexible computing options provides a compelling alternative to today's PC-on-every-desktop paradigm.

For more information, click here.

VIZIO Expands Internet Apps Product Line with New High Definition Blu-ray Players, HD Wireless Internet Routers Enhancing Your Home Theater Experience

VIZIO, America's HDTV and Consumer Electronics Company, announced the introduction of a wireless Internet router optimized for VIZIO Internet Apps (VIA), the platform that enables viewers to experience the best of the web and on-demand content, as well as three wireless Blu-ray players with Internet Apps, that offer consumers even more entertainment on demand, such as streaming HD movies, TV episodes, music, photos and social networking. The Dual-Band HD Wireless Internet Router prioritizes HD video and audio to VIA HDTVs and Blu-ray players, such as VIA-enabled VBR200W, VBR210, VBR220 and VBR231 Blu-ray players that are capable of streaming content from online services such as VUDU, Netflix and Pandora. The universal wireless router can also be configured to prioritize traffic to other Internet-connected devices as well as share a high-speed Internet connection to other Internet capable devices in the home, such as laptops, game consoles and smart phones. For more information, click here.

Can Traditional TV Operators Embrace OTT Video as a Service?

There is an assumption by many market pundits today that the service operators in the world of Internet TV services and that of traditional pay-TV are totally disjointed. We think this is rather too simplistic.

Just like the world of e-commerce in the early generations of Internet, the shift of consumption did not totally upend the value of existing brands and consumer loyalties. A few new players emerged for sure, but by and large, the brick and mortar brands have become just as prominent on the Internet as they are on Main Street – the power of branding transcends the medium.

When you apply this logic to video, the service operators that make the leap to multi-screen delivery can indeed be the same names that dominate the pay-TV market in cable, satellite and IPTV today. They have the content, the subscriber relationships and the scale to make service delivery compelling whatever the physical distribution network, and in many cases they also provide Internet connectivity.

The challenge for existing operators is that this requires a fundamental shift in the way they think. Progressive digital TV operators may have to embrace novel technologies that have been designed to effectively scale and solve IP video issues and apply them over their delivery networks. By integrating OTT and adaptive rate streaming technology with pay-TV services, operators can enhance ARPU, subscriber loyalty and lure incremental advertising dollars.

This convergence of technologies also must encompass a proactive revenue protection and enhancement approach that enables digital TV operators to cast a much wider net with their service offerings. This shifts the central value proposition for the digital video enterprise beyond that of content protection alone, towards the broader perspective of revenue security.

Download Verimatrix's white paper, Pay-TV at an Inflection Point, and let us know if you agree.

Submitted from Verimatrix.

Clarion and Nokia Team Up on Connected Car Technology

Clarion Co., Ltd., a global leader in car audio and electronics, and Nokia Corporation, the world's leading mobile device producer announced that they are collaborating on Terminal Mode, a technology that will enable a totally new way of mobile devices and car infotainment systems to seamlessly work together. Both companies say this collaboration will further boost the development of next-generation smart car infotainment systems.

Through this partnership Clarion aims to develop the smartphone interface that Nokia and Consumer Electronics for Automotive, as well as to build an application service business for in-car devices utilizing the Ovi Store application service by Nokia. Clarion is also targeting accelerated development and greater commercial dominance of in-car information systems for the Europe and North America markets where Nokia has a strong presence, as well as China and other emerging markets. For more information, click here.

Widevine Named a Preferred Provider of Adaptive Streaming and DRM for Samsung Devices

Widevine, a provider of digital entertainment solutions, announced that it has signed a global agreement with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. to distribute Widevine's live and on-demand adaptive streaming, virtual DVD-like "trick play" and digital rights management (DRM) on Samsung connected devices. These technologies from Widevine will enable Samsung to support TV Everywhere and over-the-top delivery initiatives from Internet content providers and large cable, satellite and telecommunication companies.

As one of Samsung's preferred partners, the Widevine client will be shipped on millions of Samsung devices in 2010. Widevine's DRM and adaptive streaming software is already included in 2009 models of Samsung connected TVs and Blu-ray players shipped in the United States. This agreement enables Samsung to expand distribution on a worldwide basis.

Consumers can connect to the Internet and access thousands of hours of video content, from the latest blockbuster movies to the most popular television shows, using their TV, Blu-ray player or mobile phone, among other devices. Widevine's video optimization and DRM technology will ensure consumers using Samsung devices will receive the ultimate viewing experience for both live and on-demand content. Samsung will include Widevine's adaptive streaming, virtual DVD-like controls and DRM on many of its most popular connected devices.

Widevine's video optimization and DRM technologies are utilized by major Internet content services and large cable, satellite and telecommunication companies launching TV Everywhere strategies. The company's software platform optimizes the entertainment experience for live and on-demand content delivered over any network to any device. The solution is natively supported in nearly all types of network connected consumer electronics including televisions, Blu-ray players, mobile devices, gaming systems and more. For more information, click here.

To Be Free, or Not to Be. Does VP8 Limit Revenue Potential for GoogleTV?

There is a wave of reaction and analysis around the Google TV and VP8 announcements, and I hope this doesn’t simply add to the noise level.

From the point of view of revenue security, I get the impression that rather than uniting the world behind a common (OK, supposedly free) codec, Google is really driving a wedge between commercial content and user-generated content (or at least not fee-based content).

Why do I think so? VP8 is not suitable for revenue generating video services because Google believes that “DRM is fundamentally in conflict with open source and open standards.” As a result, commercial content will continue to be distributed using standards that are compatible with protection techniques such as MPEG-2 transport stream and AVC coding. Non-commercial content may use the VP8 open source solution. Google is doing the same thing with YouTube – converting user-generated free content to VP8 while using Adobe Flash for paid content.

But in reality, these two worlds are really not exclusive as they might seem.

Some content may start as paid content, and later on may be distributed in the clear with commercials and eventually distributed freely. Other business models allow users to chose between paid but ad-free version or ad-supported version of the same content. Content providers or service operators are not likely to transcode each content for different distribution models if they can avoid it.

As a comment on Google’s apparent position here, I don’t see why an open source codec or open standard should be fundamentally incompatible with revenue generating services. This has been disproved by several standards organizations including MPEG, DVB or OMA, but that is a discussion for another day. The bottom line is that if valuable content will eventually be encoded and distributed using VP8, we’ll be able to protect it if the business model requires it (it is open source after all, isn’t it?) Read on NewTeeVee why open sourcing VP8 matters.

The other issue in debate is whether open source VP8 will stay free. It is unlikely that after a quarter of a century of digital video compression research, Google (or On2) would be able to come up with a codec that is of comparable quality as those developed by MPEG/ITU without infringing on anybody’s patents. If I remember correctly, Microsoft tried something similar with VC-1 and it did not work according to the original plan.

I don’t believe that any serious service provider will jump on the VP8 bandwagon without being able to accommodate all licensing fees into their business model upfront. Maybe this will speed up MPEG’s effort to create a royalty-free version of MPEG codec, which will avoid splitting the pay-TV and free-TV worlds.

Submitted by Verimatrix

New Content Available from CONNECTIONS 2010 Speakers & Sponsors

The 2010 CONNECTIONS Speakers and Sponsors have shared marketing materials, product information, company media kits, and lots more.

The U.S CONNECTIONS Sponsors include Verizon Wireless, Cisco, Intel, Accenture, ActiveVideo Networks, Allegro, DivX, D-Link, Gigle Networks, Intamac, ProVision Communications, PacketVideo, RedMere, Rovi, Support.com, 4Home, Accedo Broadband, Affinegy, AlertMe, Arxan, IBM, iTOK, LEVEL Studios, PlumChoice, Vuze, Zenverge, and Roxio.

Speakers (that submitted information to share) include Cedric Arnaud-Battandier, VP, Strategy & Corporate Development, Technicolor; Cathy Bradley, Global Lead, Customer Contact Business Process Outsourcing Services, Accenture; Savinay Berry, Vice President, Granite Ventures; William C. Brown, Assoc. VP Technology and GM, Service Provider Business Unit, North America, D-Link; Mike Buckingham, Director of Marketing, SmartLabs, Inc.; Alfredo Choperena, President, SimpleHomeNet; Martin Flusberg, CEO, Powerhouse Dynamics; Todd Hinders, Senior Vice President, ExtendMedia; Scott Hublou, Co-Founder, SVP of Products, EcoFactor; Tony Masterson, COO, CTO and Co-founder, Zenverge; Kevin Meagher, CEO, Intamac Systems; Andy Melder, Vice President Business Development, Gigle Networks; Kevin Morgan, CTO, Arxan Technologies, Inc.; Tom Pollard, Director of Product Management, Verimatrix Inc.; Yaron Raz, Director of Video Solutions Marketing, BigBand Networks; Rick Schwartz, Senior Product Manager, PacketVideo (PV); Loren Shade, VP Marketing, Allegro Software Development Corporation; Melissa Simpler, CEO, Affinegy; Peter Smyth, CEO, RedMere; Steve Tranter, VP Interactive and Broadband, NDS; Edgar Villalpando, SVP, Marketing, ActiveVideo Networks; Dr. Kenneth Wacks, Member, GridWise Architecture Council, U.S. Department of Energy; and Nate Williams, CMO, 4Home.

To view all materials, click here.

Consumer Subsidized TV: The Role of More Open Standards

The era of the dedicated set-top box (STB) for each service to a TV is definitely coming to an end. What is emerging is a picture that involves a series of platforms that can support service specific applications or widgets selected and managed by the consumer. These platforms may themselves be based around standards such that service operators can create the applications that engage the consumer.

In certain kinds of systems, for instance the DirecTV view of the home media server, standards are only necessary to be able to share the content, they are not necessary to manage the device itself. That device, therefore, can be a completely proprietary system that is wholly owned and subsided by the network or system operator. It is most likely produced exclusively for that network operator, just like traditional STBs have been.

IP-based standards in such platforms also allows operators to cost-effectively deploy a security system and business rules that can satisfy all demands of content owners while creating the transparent usage model that consumers demand.

We believe that IP and the sophisticated protocols built on IP are the common building blocks to make digital convergence happen inside the home.

One such standards activity is the Open IPTV Forum – a cooperative of technology companies that is seeking to create an end to end platform for the delivery of IP video services. Another recent initiative is Project Canvas propelled by the BBC in the UK. A standard becomes important like this when it can enable multi-vendor participation.

As members of both the Open IPTV Forum and Digital TV (DTG), among several other standards consortiums, we are seeing the central role that IP-based technologies are taking. However, we feel that a key component to these specifications is the ability to generate revenue. Creating the right experience that consumers are willing to pay for will most certainly generate continued innovation.

We are watching Project Canvas and others like HbbTV closely, like the rest of the industry.

Blog posting material submitted by Verimatrix.

TELUS Builds IP Next-Generation Network Cloud Services Using Cisco Unified Service Delivery Technology

Cisco announced that TELUS is enhancing its service delivery network using Cisco Unified Service Delivery. The solution combines the power of the data center with the power of the network to transform service delivery and build a foundation for cloud services.

This deployment is central to TELUS' primary goal of further expanding delivery of best-in-class managed services and delivering a comprehensive range of world-class, innovative data and communications services.

As customer demand for advanced managed services increases along with a growing interest in flexible cloud-based services, TELUS has been building its national infrastructure to enable expansion of its managed services to meet the evolving needs of enterprise and small-business customers. To deliver quality solutions, TELUS has extended its investment in the Cisco Nexus 2000, Cisco Nexus 5000 and Cisco Nexus 7000 switching platforms in data center facilities across Canada.

TELUS chose the Cisco Nexus platform for its ability to combine Ethernet, Internet Protocol (IP) and storage capabilities across one unified network fabric. The platform is an essential part of Unified Service Delivery, a solution that not only unifies data center resources but enables peering and interconnecting between data centers. These capabilities facilitate service integration, flexibility and agility in delivering entertainment, information and communication-based services.

The Cisco Nexus family of switches helps customers reduce total cost of ownership, accelerate business growth and extend the life cycle of current infrastructure by making the data center more efficient, responsive and resilient.

TELUS is taking advantage of the reliability, scalability and flexibility of Cisco Unified Service Delivery to offer a range of cloud-based infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) managed services. TELUS Managed IT solutions provide customers with the flexibility to out-task IT systems management according to their particular business requirements – from provisioning servers for customer-facing websites to offering fully out-tasked customized solutions, including end-to-end management of networks, desktops, servers and storage. For more information, click here.

D-Link Announces Integrated Cloud Backup for Its Sharecenter Storage Solution

D-Link, the worldwide leader in innovative home and business networking, and CTERA Networks, an innovator in cloud storage services, announced that the D-Link ShareCenter Network Attached Storage solution has been enhanced with an integrated online backup service by CTERA.

Ideal for the data protection needs of "prosumers" and home offices, the online backup service safeguards against data loss and enables data recovery in case of disaster.

The online backup service offers D-Link 2-Bay ShareCenter users built-in offsite data protection that doesn't require PC software installation and works automatically directly from the NAS appliance. Differential backups and data compression are used to ensure quick and efficient backup. Users can automatically and securely back up data to reliable cloud storage and recover and access their files using a Web browser from anywhere, at any time. They can also roll back their stored files to previous versions, up to 30 days old.

Unlike existing PC-based online backup services, the solution does not limit data backup to a single PC. Rather, it lets users backup all their important files from any PC to their D-Link DNS-323 NAS unit and safeguard them locally and remotely on the "cloud," with no limitations on file size, file type or the number of PCs on the network.

The DNS-323 is part of the D-Link ShareCenter product line that provides greater performance, flexibility and protection against content loss than ordinary external hard drives.

Key Features and Benefits:
Easy setup -- no PC software installation required
Fully automated online backup
Unlimited file types and file sizes
Incremental, compressed transmission with block-level data de-duplication
AES-256 encryption with customer specific secret key, plus 128-bit SSL
Retains previous file versions for up to 30 days
Access and restore files from anywhere using a Web-based portal

Online backup for D-Link's DNS-323 will be available in June 2010. All new and existing DNS-323 owners are entitled to a free 30-day trial. Annual plans are available starting from $99 per year. Pay-as-you-go plans are also available, starting from $4.99 a month. To sign up for the new online backup service, click here. More information on D-Link's ShareCenter product offerings is available here.

Symantec Helps MobiTV, Inc. Deliver Mobile Experiences

Symantec Corp. announced MobiTV, Inc., a leading provider of technology solutions that deliver media over wireless and broadband networks, relies on Symantec information security and management software suites to automate IT processes, consolidate multiple security technologies and reduce email storage space.

MobiTV's end-to-end managed service platform enables the delivery of 100 television and video channels from more than 50 content providers, including NBC, ABC, ESPN Mobile TV, Disney Channel, FOX News, COMEDY CENTRAL and Bravo to its subscribers. The company's subscriber base has tripled over just the past two years to nine million, and its IT infrastructure was feeling the strain.

MobiTV worked with Symantec partner Blue Chip Tek, Inc. to implement Altiris Service and Asset Management Suite from Symantec for incident, asset and inventory management, as well as Altiris Client Management Suite and Altiris Server Management Suite for system provisioning and patch management. With the help of Blue Chip Tek, the configuration of policies and implementation of the different Altiris technologies took less than two weeks. Asset, inventory and patch management policies map to the company's IT governance polices, including Control Objectives for Information Related Technology (COBIT) and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). Additionally, MobiTV has a centralized management console that provides a consolidated view across all of its different systems.

Prior to Altiris Server Management Suite and Client Management Suite, the process for client and server deployments was a manual process, consuming valuable IT staff time. With standard images and remote control capabilities, the time for client and server provisioning has been reduced 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Immediately following the endpoint management deployment, MobiTV worked with Blue Chip Tek to migrate from its existing endpoint security solution, which consisted of several disparate point products, to Symantec Protection Suite Enterprise Edition, an integrated set of data security and management solutions that creates a protected endpoint, messaging, and Web environment that is secured against today's complex malware, data loss and spam threats, and is quickly recoverable in the event of failure.

MobiTV also implemented Symantec Enterprise Vault email and content archiving software to establish a reliable, effective means of moving information from expensive storage to lower cost storage. The reduction in email storage was immediate. MobiTV eliminated 40 percent of its email storage using the single-instance archiving and data compression technologies in Enterprise Vault, an estimated nine terabytes over the past four years. In addition, migration from tier-one storage to less-expensive SATA disk shaved nearly 50 percent from email storage costs.

For more information, click here.

CONNECTIONS Europe announces Call For Papers

We are now accepting speaker submissions for the CONNECTIONS Europe Summit in Amsterdam this November 15-16. The deadline to submit your information is September 9th.

Submit your speaker today by completing this online form.

The agenda is available here.

Looking forward to seeing you in Amsterdam!

Thank you 2010 U.S. Sponsors!

Parks Associates wanted to thank all of the U.S. CONNECTIONS sponsors for helping make 2010 another great event!

Reception: Verizon Wireless

Gold: Cisco, Intel

Silver: Accenture, ActiveVideo Networks, Allegro, DivX, D-Link, Gigle Networks, Intamac, ProVision Communications, PacketVideo, RedMere, Rovi, support.com

Bronze: 4Home, Accedo Broadband, Affinegy, AlertMe, Arxan, IBM, iTOK, LEVEL Studios, PlumChoice, Vuze, Zenverge

Breakfast: Roxio

Thank you again for your continued support!

CONNECTIONS 2010 Wrap Up

CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference & Showcase concluded last week following multiple sessions focused on value-added services, new platforms and distribution models, and digital media consumption. Industry leaders affirmed consumer demand for online video and proliferation of connected CE are driving the shift to multiplatform access within the home.

The conference featured keynotes from Sony, Samsung, Verizon, and Intel and research from Parks Associates, including the following insights, as noted in The Viodi View and The Urban Network:

• Annual U.S. revenues for online video from PCs and mobile devices will exceed $1.8 billion by 2014.

• Limited audience reach, the lack of a single-source measurement standard, and lack of format standards are major factors that could impact the growth of online video.

• The total addressable U.S. market for online video is approximately 170.5 million users in 2010 and will grow to 220 million by 2013.

• Consumers are still cautious in their purchasing, and according to Tricia Parks, CEO, Parks Associates, “No company can let its guard down.”

• 3D is here to stay. By 2014, one-third of homes will have a 3DTV, according to data presented by Samsung.

• Energy is moving from a commodity to a service, thanks to the ongoing expansion of the smart grid in the U.S.

• According to Cisco’s Ken Wirt, 91% of all Internet traffic by 2013 will be video bits.
  

In his CONNECTIONS™ keynote “Entertainment in a Connected World,” Mitch Singer, CTO, Sony Pictures Entertainment; President, DECE, discussed current efforts by the DECE to establish a standard for distributed content.

In his keynote “TV Technology in the New Age of Consumer Buying,” Scott Birnbaum, VP, Samsung LCD Business, detailed the evolution of the television and the trends toward thinner, more artistic and eco-friendly set designs.

In his keynote “The Connected Home: Turning SciFi into Non-Fiction,” Joseph Ambeault, Director, Product Development and Management, Video Services, Verizon, discussed the significant potential of the connected home due to the convergence of devices and services.

Wilfred Martis, General Manager, Retail CE, Digital Home Group, Intel, discussed the Era of the Smart TV, plus the need for players to act quickly in this rapidly changing market, in his keynote “Smart TVs: Ready for Primetime,” which also featured Anthony Soohoo, SVP, Entertainment, CBS Interactive.

Archived videos of the keynote addresses are available at www.parksassociates.com/connvideo.

Zenverge Showcases Industry's First Whole-home, Multi-screen DVR Implementation with RemoteGUIDE at Connections 2010

Zenverge, a leading developer of advanced media ICs, announced it will demonstrate the industry's first multi-room, multi-screen DVR implementation with a remote user interface at the Connections 2010 conference. Now shipping to qualified customers worldwide, Zenverge's current generation ICs use advanced, patent-pending algorithms and a highly optimized pipeline to deliver unprecedented media processing capabilities in a highly compact, power-efficient, and cost-effective footprint. The demos at Connections 2010 will showcase the industry's highest performance and highest density transcoding capabilities, as well as Zenverge's RemoteGUIDE capability to transport user interface and metadata to multiple displays. RemoteGUIDE uniquely allows operators to construct and distribute a rich user interface for multiple displays from a single server or gateway device without putting any additional burden on the home network while supporting the installed base of networked displays, thus significantly reducing the overall cost of deploying whole-home DVR.

In addition to demonstrating at the conference, Zenverge's CEO Amir Mobini will also be participating in a panel entitled "Future of the Set top box". For more information about this panel, click here.

Founded in 2005, Zenverge is a fabless semiconductor company devoted to accelerating consumer access to next generation digital content and services. The company is a leading developer of Advanced Media ICs built around the patented ZEN architecture, a core technology for next generation digital media devices. The company is based in Cupertino, California. For more information please click here.

HGI Expands Portfolio with New Ecodesign and Multi Session Support Documents

The Home Gateway Initiative (HGI) announced the ratification of two key documents focusing on ecodesign in home networking and home gateway traffic management.

The first document helps to further enhance HGI’s energy efficiency portfolio of work and is a big step towards bringing ecodesign to home networking by facilitating energy efficient, reusable power supplies.

The document is part of the HGI’s Release 3 specification family and has been produced by the HGI’s Energy Efficiency Task Force. The document has already been liaised to ETSI where it will form the basis of a new European series of standards. HGI’s work is also expected to directly influence work in this area at the ITU-T and IEC.

The second document sets technical requirements that will increase the reliability of the home gateway when handling some types of data traffic.

Founded in 2004, HGI is the world’s leading member-led organization devoted to translating broadband service providers’ service plans into published technology requirements for home enablers.

For more information, click here.

Entertainment in a Connected World

Mitch Singer, CTO, Sony Pictures Entertainment and President, DECE is Thursday’s opening keynote at the CONNECTIONS Conference.

In this keynote, Mitch Singer, CTO of Sony and president of DECE, will provide an overview of the state of the entertainment industry including trends that will help spur the marketplace as well as evolving distribution and industry opportunities.

CONNECTIONS focuses on New Media & Digital Content, Entertainment Platforms & Services, Home Controls & Energy Management, and CE

CONNECTIONS™ will feature two pre-show research workshops, “Monetizing the Digital Lifestyle” and “Residential Energy Management: Home Area Networks and the Consumer,” on June 8, prior to the conference. Parks Associates’ research teams will provide insight, analysis, and forecasts, including consumer and industry data, in these interactive workshops.

CONNECTIONS™ keynote sessions will feature executives from Intel, Verizon, Samsung LCD Business, and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

CONNECTIONS™ Conference Sessions:

-- Expanding Consumers’ Digital Media Choices
-- Digital Lifestyles: Outlook – A Parks Associates Analyst Roundtable
-- Opening Session - Monetizing Connected CE
-- TV and Online Video Advertising Metrics: Managing the Data
-- Design Elements for Connected CE
-- Mobile Internet and Cloud Services
-- Energy Management as a Key Application for Home Controls
-- Digital Home Technical Support Services
-- DRM, Conditional Access, and Payment Models
-- 3DTV
-- Home Area Network: Architectures and Implications
-- Service Provider Innovation
-- Residential Energy Management
-- Getting Consumers to Care about Home Controls
-- Business Models for Energy Management
-- The Future of the Set-top Box
-- TV Everywhere and Online Video
-- Innovations & Investments: Venture Capitalist Insights

For more information on CONNECTIONS™, visit www.connectionsus.com .

The Latest OTT Opportunity: Connected TV

Of all the new Internet TV delivery options, the connected TV is especially interesting to service operators: It’s already front and center in the living room, there is perhaps no expensive STB required, it features an already integrated remote control and has the potential for high-quality presentation without distortion or noise from connecting cables.

On the other hand, today’s connected TVs are fundamentally constrained by proprietary interfaces, wholly proprietary aggregation portals and simplistic navigational schemes. Limited or no storage means streaming-only presentation of content.

Our current feeling is that the Internet-connected TVs are primarily an aspect of a features game in a highly competitive consumer electronics market and is one of the options least likely to be exploited for premium video delivery services. The more likely scenario will be facilitated via connected devices such as Blu-ray players game consoles and last but not least via STBs, although these may take on a new identities such as whole home DVRs, media gateways, etc.

It is possible that connectivity may be used to blend the TV and Web experiences together. Operators can choose to make this happen on a TV using overlay or screen sharing applications, such as calling up an actor’s Twitter feed while watching his performance.

But given that living room viewing is a shared experience, it may be more realistic to see TV supplemented by other more personal phone or pad devices with better user input capabilities to provide such interactivity. I can attest with my own family’s habits, that it has become more normal for viewers to watch TV while working on their connected laptop!

I presented last week at the TV 3.0 – Future of TV conference (co-located with @DisplayWeek) . I was surprised to hear that nearly 20% of TVs shipped in 2010 will be network‐enabled, which is projected to reach about 60% in 2013!

And we are experiencing some interest from CE manufacturers to embed software-based security technology directly into these next-generation TVs.

Nonetheless, I came back with the opinion that STBs are not going away anytime soon. The issue (and cost) of customer support needs to rest with the operator who ultimately owns the quality of experience.

Submitted from Steve Oetegenn, Verimatrix.

Samsung’s VP of LCD Business addresses consumer buying decisions for TV’s

Scott Birnbaum, Vice President, Samsung LCD Business will present the keynote, “TV Technology in the New Age of Consumer Buying” on Wednesday, June 9 at 10:00 at CONNECTIONS.

Mr. Birnbaum will address how the buying decision for today’s TVs has become more complex and more important in the list of home priorities. Consumers are no longer simply satisfied with a good picture and a decent warranty. Consumers are looking at TVs as exceptionally thin wall hangings; energy-efficient Energy-Star rated appliances; and providers of crystal clear, movie-like viewing experiences. The presentation will compare thinness of panels, edge-lighting and energy efficiency, as well as contrast ratios, aspect ratios and the importance of faster refresh rates. As stereoscopic 3D also enters the TV picture in 2010, Mr. Birnbaum will cover how 3D can best be married with 2D to usher in a new dimension in post-HD customer satisfaction.

More than 100 industry executives lend insights at CONNECTIONS Conference

CONNECTIONS speakers will deliver insight and recommendations for new business models and opportunities in digital media/content, connected consumer electronics, broadband and value-added services, and home systems. View full agenda here.

Keynote Speakers
Joseph Ambeault, Director, Product Development and Management, Video Services, Verizon
Scott Birnbaum, Vice President, Samsung LCD Business
Wilfred Martis, General Manager, Retail CE, Digital Home Group, Intel Corporation
Mitch Singer, CTO, Sony Pictures Entertainment; President, DECE

Speakers & Panelists
Cedric Arnaud-Battandier, VP, Strategy & Corporate Development, Technicolor
Seth Bailey, CEO, iTOK
David Barclay, Director Energy Management, OpenPeak
Anthony Bay, CEO, MOD Systems
David Bercovich, Vice President of Business Development, AlertMe
Savinay Berry, Vice President, Granite Ventures
Gilles BianRosa, CEO, Vuze, Inc.
Stephen Blum, President, Tellus Venture Associates
Jeff Bonin, Vice President of Business Development, Alticast
Kris Bowring, Senior Director, Emerging Business, Best Buy
Paul Brody, Global Lead, IBM Electronics Industry Strategy Practice, IBM Global Business Services
William C. Brown, Assoc. VP Technology and GM, Service Provider Business Unit, North America, D-Link
Mike Buckingham, Director of Marketing, SmartLabs, Inc.
Thomas Carpenter, VP Operations and Digital Chief of Staff, Epix
Susan Cashen, Vice President Marketing, Control4
David Chechelashvili, Head of Gaming and Retail, XpanD, Inc
Alfredo Choperena, President, SimpleHomeNet
Matthew Choy, Marketing Director, Rsupport Inc.
Albert Chu, Vice President, Marketing and Alliances, ACCESS Systems Americas
Jim Denney, Vice President, General Manager, Product Marketing, TiVo Inc.
Gary Ellison, Chief Security Architect, Intertrust Technologies, representing Marlin
Greg Ennis, Technical Director, Wi-Fi Alliance
Jim Feuille, General Partner, Crosslink Capital
Martin Flusberg, CEO, Powerhouse Dynamics
Paul Fulton, General Manager, Prosumer Business Unit, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Dwight Gibson, VP & GM Connected Home Solutions, Ingersoll Rand
Alexandre Giess, Head of Digital Home - Group Marketing North America, Orange/France Telecom Group
Alex Glass, Vice President, Global Operations, thePlatform
Wynn Grubbs, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, PlumChoice, Inc.
Dave Habiger, President & CEO, Sonic Solutions (Roxio)
Brian Henrichs, Chief Business Development Officer, Actiontec Electronics
Todd Hinders, Senior Vice President, ExtendMedia
Scott Hublou, Co-Founder, SVP of Products, EcoFactor
Richard Irving, Managing Partner, Pond Venture Partners Ltd.
Kanaan Jemili, Vice President of Product Management, DivX, Inc.
Michael Kostainsek, Senior Partner, Account Director, MEC (WPP’s Group M)
Douglas Light, Sr. Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development, Widevine
Steve Linke, Associate Director Consumer Electronics, Verizon Wireless - Open Development
James Lopez, General Manager, Digital Video Surveillance, Logitech
Ajay Luthra, Senior Director of Advanced Technology, Motorola
Letha McLaren, Vice President of Energy Products, iControl Networks
Kevin Meagher, CEO, Intamac Systems
Andy Melder, Vice President Business Development, Gigle Networks
Amir Mobini, President and CEO, Zenverge
Frank Mona III, Executive Director, Sales Execution, Consumer Home Services, AT&T
Kevin Morgan, CTO, Arxan Technologies, Inc.
Malachy Moynihan, VP, Video Strategy, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Macario Namie, Senior Director, Product Marketing, Jasper Wireless
Richard Nesin, Executive Director, HomePNA Alliance
Robert O'Dell, President/CEO, SecurityCoverage, Inc.
Amy Oehler, Senior Manager, Business Development Direct Energy, Direct Energy
Nathan Ota, Solutions Product Marketing Manager, Consumer Solutions, Trilliant
Sean Parham, Executive Vice President & CMO, 2Wire, Inc.
Nash Parker, Director of Emerging Technology & Media, Alcatel-Lucent
Tony Perucca, Senior Director, comScore, Inc.
Tom Pollard, Director of Product Management, Verimatrix Inc.
Drake Pruitt, SVP Business Development, Ascent Media Group
Yaron Raz, Director of Video Solutions Marketing, BigBand Networks
Terri Richardson, Business Integration Manager, Navic at Microsoft
Anthony Rodio, COO, Support.com
Russ Schafer, Senior Director, Global Product Marketing, Yahoo! Connected TV, Yahoo!
Daniel Scheinman, SVP & GM, Cisco Media Solutions Group, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Rick Schwartz, Senior Product Manager, PacketVideo (PV)
Loren Shade, VP Marketing, Allegro Software Development Corporation
Gene Sheridan, CEO, BridgeCo, Inc.
Charley Shoemaker, Director, Product Management, Nielsen Online, The Nielsen Company
Howard Simons, Director of Sales Research, West Division, Comcast Spotlight
Melissa Simpler, CEO, Affinegy
Peter Smyth, CEO, RedMere
Kurt Stammberger, Vice President Marketing, Mocana
Mark Studness, Director E-Commerce, Verizon
Dean Takahashi, Digital Media Lead Writer, VentureBeat
Jim Theberge, Product Management Director, Rovi Corporation
Steve Tranter, VP Interactive and Broadband, NDS
Daren Tsui, CEO, mSpot, Inc
Edgar Villalpando, SVP, Marketing, ActiveVideo Networks
Dr. Kenneth Wacks, Member, GridWise Architecture Council, U.S. Department of Energy
Ian Walsh, VP Business Development, ProVision Communications
Nate Williams, CMO, 4Home
Ken Wirt, Vice President Consumer Marketing, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Tom Woods, VP, User Experience, Rovi Corporation
Mark W. Young, Vice President, Strategy & BD, Mobile, Comcast Interactive Media
Dan Ziegler, Regional Director, Latens Systems

Parks Associates Moderators
Farhan Abid, Research Analyst, Parks Associates
Bill Ablondi, Director, Home Systems Research, Parks Associates
Pietro Macchiarella, Research Analyst, Parks Associates
Tricia Parks, Founder and CEO, Parks Associates
Kurt Scherf, Vice President & Principal Analyst, Parks Associates
Stuart Sikes, President, Parks Associates
Harry Wang, Director, Health & Mobile Product Research, Parks Associates
Heather Way, Research Analyst, Parks Associates

CONNECTIONS welcomes new sponsor, AlertMe

Parks Associates is proud to welcome AlertMe as a new Bronze sponsor for the 2010 CONNECTIONS Conference.

AlertMe provides simple and affordable home energy management systems to consumers both directly and indirectly through their energy provider enabling them to manage and reduce consumption, save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

The company is private and venture backed by Good Energies, Index Ventures, SET Venture Partners, and VantagePoint Venture Partners.

For more information please go to www.alertme.com

New White Paper, Google TV - Searching for Success

Google is entering the market for smart TV at a time where there is much indecision about the ideal technology solution. The market is searching for a solution that will benefit the TV manufacturer, content owners, and advertisers.

This new white paper from Parks Associates looks at Google's strategy and the current market conditions for connected CE.

Click here to download.

Intel Keynote to discuss Smart TV at CONNECTIONS Conference

Parks Associates announced Wilfred Martis, General Manager, Retail CE, Digital Home Group, Intel Corporation, will deliver the keynote “Smart TVs: Ready for Primetime” at CONNECTIONS™ on Thursday, June 10, at 9:00 a.m.

In his keynote, Mr. Martis will discuss Smart TV, a new category of CE devices that will offer consumers an entirely new interactive TV experience. He will discuss newly announced Google TV*, based on Android*, Chrome* and the Intel® Atom™ processor CE4100, which is a premier example of a Smart TV experience that seamlessly integrates television, the Internet and personal content with search capabilities and access to virtually unlimited applications.

Mr. Martis will examine the technological, content, and business factors that have aligned to jumpstart today’s Smart TV Era. He will offer a roadmap and highlight the business strategies necessary to succeed in this rapidly moving market, which will start to show winners and losers in less than 18 months.

CONNECTIONS™ features multiple sessions on the design, business, and marketing challenges for connected CE and the growing demand for interactive entertainment. Sessions include industry-leading consumer research and executive analysis to highlight the next opportunities and future business strategies for video technologies and platforms.

For more information, visit www.connectionsus.com.