Sonic Solutions, new CONNECTIONS 2011 sponsor

CONNECTIONS is proud to announce Sonic Solutions as a new 2011 Bronze Sponsor.

Sonic Solutions is powering the digital media ecosystem through its complete range of Hollywood to Home applications, services, and technologies. Sonic's Roxio products enable consumers to easily manage and enjoy personal media and premium Hollywood entertainment on a broad range of connected devices. A wide array of leading technology firms, professionals, businesses, and developers rely on Sonic to bring innovative digital media functionality to next-generation devices and platforms. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.

Thank you Sonic Solutions for your continued support! We look forward to having you a part of the 2011 CONNECTIONS Conference.

CONNECTIONS 2011 welcomes Rovi as new sponsor

Parks Associates is proud to welcome Rovi Corporation as a Gold 2011 event sponsor for the CONNECTIONS U.S. event.

Rovi Corporation is focused on revolutionizing the digital entertainment landscape by delivering solutions that enable consumers to intuitively connect to new entertainment from many sources and locations. The company also provides extensive entertainment discovery solutions for television, movies, music and photos to its customers in the consumer electronics, cable and satellite, entertainment and online distribution markets. These solutions, complemented by industry leading entertainment data, create the connections between people and technology, and enable them to discover and manage entertainment in an enjoyable form.

Thank you Rovi for your continued support of our events!

Mobile App Technology Enables Key Vehicle Functions

Thinking about buying a new vehicle? Interested in a 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC? If so, you will soon be able to control key vehicle functions from your smart phones via OnStar.

Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC are developing brand-specific mobile applications that will leverage OnStar technology to allow vehicle owners to activate all of the functions available on a traditional vehicle key fob – remote start, horn and lights and door lock/unlock - from their smartphones. This means drivers will no longer have to be within a requisite distance, or even have their keys with them, to control these functions on their vehicles.

For example, say someone is racing to catch a flight and realizes at the gate that he forgot to lock his vehicle. OnStar's mobile app technology allows him to sign into his Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick or GMC app and send a remote lock signal to his vehicle, giving him the peace of mind to go on with his trip knowing his vehicle is secure.

Or, for example, a family attending a baseball game on a hot summer day could remotely start their vehicle as they are leaving the ballpark, so the vehicle is cooled to a comfortable temperature by the time they reach it.

In addition, the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC apps will leverage OnStar's unique connection to the vehicle to provide key diagnostic information, including fuel tank level and range, remaining oil life, current and recommended tire pressure and lifetime average miles per gallon . The diagnostic information is current as of the last vehicle start, giving OnStar subscribers an up-to-date health report of their vehicle anytime they need it.

Important vehicle information, such as current odometer reading, vehicle VIN and OnStar account number also will be readily accessible within the apps.

RoxioNow Platform to Power Instant Access to Hollywood Movies on New Range of Connected HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc Players

Sonic Solutions announced that Haier, one of the world's largest home appliances and consumer electronics manufacturers, has chosen the RoxioNow platform to provide its customers convenient, trouble-free access to a broad library of Hollywood entertainment. As part of the agreement, entertainment services powered by the RoxioNow platform will deliver movies and TV shows over the web to a new line of Haier-branded Blu-ray Disc players and HDTVs.

The RoxioNow platform serves a broad range of premium content, including new movies and next-day TV programs, to a growing, multi-manufacturer ecosystem of home and mobile electronics including PCs, connected TVs, set-top DVRs, Blu-ray Disc players, smartphones, and mobile media devices. The platform enables retailers and consumer electronics companies to participate in the entertainment supply chain, add value to product offerings and form ongoing relationships with customers.

RoxioNow powers digital entertainment delivery for a range of companies including Best Buy, Blockbuster, Dell, HP, Kmart, Lionsgate, and Sears, and is available on a broad variety of consumer electronics devices.

Technicolor, ADB, IBM, Cisco, Cable Europe Labs, Deutsche Telekom, and more to speak at CONNECTIONS Europe 2010

Parks Associates announced the new dates and preliminary list of speakers for CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit: Monetizing Connectivity and User Experiences, an executive summit offering insights into business strategies for digital content, value-added services, mobile and connected CE, and advanced video devices and services. The event will take place November 15-16, 2010, at the Mövenpick Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The expanded agenda for the two-day event includes the following topics:

• Enhancing Broadband Services: Connected Home and Customer Support

• Mobile Internet Devices

• Operator-provided Video Services

• Connected CE and Content Delivery

• Extending the Video Experience to Multiple Screens

• Value-added Services & the Video Ecosystem

• Controlling the Experience

• Mobile Video: The Cloud, the App Store, & the Connected Home

Benoit Joly, Vice-President, Home Network & Applications, Technicolor, will present the morning keynote on November 16, 2010.

Confirmed speakers:

David Noguer Bau, Head of Carrier Ethernet & Multiplay Marketing, Juniper Networks

Regina Bernhaupt, Director, User Experience Research, ruwido

Paul Bristow, VP Strategy, Middleware & Consumer Experience, ADB

Ronald Brockmann, Managing Director, Europe, ActiveVideo Networks

Rob van den Dam, Global Telecom Sector Leader IBV, IBM

Jean-Michel Demoulin, Cable, Digital Media & IPTV Strategy - European Markets, Cisco

Keith Donovan, Sales & Marketing Director, Intamac Systems Ltd

Tim Hadley, Director, Corporate Communications, Omnifone

Pierre Hunter, VP, EMEA, Verimatrix

Klaus Illgner-Fehns, Managing Director, Institut fuer Rundfunktechnik GmbH; HbbTV

Michael Lantz, CEO, Accedo Broadband

Michael Leigh, Director, Business, Northern Europe, Latens Systems
Kevin Meagher, CEO, Intamac Systems

Klaus Milczewsky, Senior Manager, Deutsche Telekom AG

Trond Neergaard, Founder & Managing Partner, Cloudberry Associates

Peter Percosan, CTO, Cable Europe Labs

Rolf Uwe Placzek, CEO, Acetrax

Kurt Scherf, VP, Principal Analyst, Parks Associates

Stuart Sikes, President, Parks Associates

Anthony Smith-Chaigneau, Managing Director, SVP Business Development, Alticast

Andy Tiller, Marketing Vice Chair, FEMTO Forum; VP, Marketing, ip.access

Milya Timergaleyeva, VP Market Strategy, Oregan Networks Ltd

Christopher Townsley, Director, European Sales, Limelight Networks

Harry Wang, Director, Health & Mobile Product Research, Parks Associates

Olivier Wellmann, VP, Product Management, OpenTV

To register for CONNECTIONS™ Europe or to submit to speak, visit http://www.connectionseurope.com.