Indian CATV operator ready for Triple Play

Ortel Communications Ltd, better known as cable TV service provider under the brand name SkyView has announced the commercial launch of its Internet telephony services. Till now it was providing only cable TV and broadband Internet services for homes and commercial establishments and by launching Internet telephony it has come into the league of elite triple play service providers of India and will be directly competing with telecom companies atleast in the long distance calls. It will be interesting to watch cable TV operators competing with telecom companies in triple play space especially when Bharti, MTNL, BSNL and Reliance have already announced their plans of launching IPTV and VoD services by the end of this year. Ortel's internet telephony services refers to communication facilities like voice, facsimile or voice messaging applications transported via broadband rather than traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN). This new service will most probably available to Ortel customers in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Khurda, Puri and Paradeep.

Deutsche Telekom for Half Hearted IPTV

Deutsche Telekom is planning to launch its Internet-based television service next month but without interactive services. Company is starting with soccer and some other television programs and interactive services will be added later in the current year, such as video on demand, electronic program guides and on-demand TSTV (Time Shifted Television). DT's IPTV service is part of a triple-play offering, which includes telephony and high-speed Internet access. It will be delivered over a very-high bit rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) network. The VDSL network has already been rolled out in 10 cities like Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich etc, offers enough speed to support HDTV and 3D TV. Deutsche Telekom has deployed Microsoft's IPTV software platformfor its VDSL-based T-Home service offering. The Deutsche Telekom deal is MicrosoftÂ’s second largest with the largest presumably being the deal with AT&T for $400 million. Deutsche Telekom has chosen Linksys as its hardware partner for launching TV services via the Internet. Company's T-Com division will use routers from Juniper Networks Inc. to power the VDSL2 platform. At the launch of service around 100 broadcasters are expected to be offered.

Deutsche Telekom expects to be able to offer VDSL-based triple play services, including IPTV, to 3.1 million households in August and as many as 6 million by the first quarter of 2007. Gartner estimates that the number of German households subscribing to IPTV, however, will reach 47,000 this year and grow to 2.8 million by 2010. This looks more reasonable as evident from market dynamics. German cable operators are also gearing to offer their own triple-play services by upgrading their existing network infrastructure. There are 18 million cable TV households in Germany with 1.9 million digital subscribers. About 15 million German homes do not subscribe to pay-TV, instead use satellite reception to receive about 30 channels that are broadcasted unencrypted via satellite. So there will be a great challenge for Deutsche Telekom to convince German households to become subscribers.

CloverLeaf Digital: New IPTV Deployments

CloverLeaf Digital, a Brooklyn-based interactive TV applications developer, specialized in building and managing localized "walled-garden" services has secured two new IPTV deployments: with CT Communications, an independent telco that has deployed CloverLeaf's services to customers in Urbana and West Liberty, Ohio; and Panhandle Telecommunication Systems, a regional telco that has deployed the services to communities in the Oklahoma Panhandle area and Perryton, Texas. The new deployments mean that CloverLeaf's walled-garden service is now available in over 100 cities Service portfolio includes national, international, business and entertainment news, local weather information, local movie theater guides, horoscopes, and ultra-localized information like school lunch menus and community events calendars. It also offers a lot variety of casual games for IPTV platforms

About CloverLeaf: Company offers a turn-key customizable service, distributing localized on demand news & information walled garden portals to digital subscribers in over 85 cities in two languages.

Moto KRZR & RIZR: New Kids on Block

(Cellphone on the leftmost is KRAZR, RIZR is the second from right side and other two are technically advanced versions of RAZR)

Motorola has placed new kids on block, extending its range of slim clamshell phones. Company wants to repeat the RAZR success story (The company has shipped more than 50 million Razrs since their introduction in November 2004.). Two technically rich mobile phones, the RAZR XX and RAZR MAXX are extensions of RAZRs while the new ones are KRZR (read Crazer) and RIZR (read riser). KRZR is more than one centimetre narrower than the traditional RAZR plus a music player and a 2-megapixel camera with 8X digital zoom, while the RIZR is Motorola's first slide phone. KRZR comes in two versions, one is GSM and other is CDMA version for Sprint and Verizon. The sliding RIZR can be operated whether open or closed and can play music and video. Both models feature a 2-megapixel camera and storage can be expanded to 1GB.

The RAZR MAXX delivers the classic RAZR clamshell styling, but adds a front-mounted VGA camera for 3G video calling. RAZR MAXX can take photos up to 2-megapixels and can accommodate 2GB of MicroSD storage. MAXX aslo incorporates the HSDPA high-speed download system for data transfers of up to 3.6Mbps. Both 3G as well as EDGE are supported by RAZR XX and RAZR MAXX. As both support HSDPA (read super 3G), a fast internet connection upto 3.6Mbps can be achieved.

As KRZR is due in stores during the third quarter; the RZR in the fourth quarter so wait for that and meanwhile you can look up the gallery.

Hana TV from Hanaro Telecom

Hanaro telecom, South Korea's second-largest broadband company, has begun offering video-on-demand TV service through its broadband network, which it expects to break even in 2007. Hanaro telecom expects revenue from the "Hana TV" service to reach 200 billion won ($210 million) annually by 2008.Converged service will help loss-making hanaro to defend and increase its customer base in the broadband and fixed-line markets. Hanaro and Korea Telecom were facing margin-crushing competition as local cable network operator Powercomm has entered into saturated Internet market.

Hana TV provides media content, including movies, on demand through a broadband Internet network and an IP set-top box hooked up to a television set. The service will cost new hanaro telecom customers 11,800 won a month and aprox 10,000 wons ($10.5) per month for existing customers excluding the set-top box price, which will be free when clients commit to a certain period of subscription. Some premium clips will be charged for separately. Users of Hanaro's broadband and landline telephony services will get favorable discounts and the monthly fees would go for as low as 7,000 won under a four-year mandatory subscription contract for them. Hana TV is expected to attract 250,000 subscribers by the end of this year, expand to one million in 2007 and 1.5 million the next year.

More than 22,000 high definition (HD) videos are now available to Korea's 12.5 million homes, the largest number for a domestic company, signing agreements with more than 50 domestic/foreign content providers including the Walt Disney Television, CJ Entertainment, SBS, BBC Worldwide, YTN, EBS, Daum, and National Geographic and is in talks with Hollywood studios including Warner Bros. When full-fledged Internet protocol television (IPTV) services begin in 2008, hanarotelecom can easily upgrade its existing network to provide IPTV service at low cost. Every version of VOD services has failed since its premiere about 10 years ago. But Hanaro has an edge this time in that it is starting the on-demand applications with full HD quality. As many households are presently equipped with HD TVs and they are eager to gain access to HD video clips. HanaTV can be the answer.

Innovative Mobile Services

First Service
A Beijing information service company began offering translation and tour guide services to foreign travelers in the city via a mobile phone that can "listen, think and speak". The intelligent mobile phone is based on a voice-recognition system which provides Chinese translations and multi-language information services. This service will help foreigners avoid communication embarrassments while sight-seeing, shopping, dining or renting a car during their stay here.

Second Service
Washers and dryers that link wirelessly to internet-connected home networks are being tested by consumers who are receiving updates on their dirty laundry via mobile phones, computers and TV sets. Messages not only indicate when a wash is complete but also can warn that a lint filter is clogged or a load is too large. Users can remotely command the machines to fluff dry clothes or start a load from a distance after being told - oops - they forgot to start the wash. trial of the system launched by the Internet Home Alliance. The project, which involves Whirlpool Corp., Panasonic and Microsoft Corp., relies on a wireless network, two TV tuners and Microsoft Media Server software to send the details to devices across the home network and beyond. At Georgia Tech, a program called LaundryView allows students to get mobile phone calls and emails when their laundry's rinse cycle is done. They also can find out which washers and dryers are available through a website.

iLane: Unique Email Solution

Hassled by calls during driving ? A powerful solution named iLane™ has come to your rescue. It is a small but powerful device that interacts directly with existing Bluetooth® enabled handheld devices and vehicle audio systems or headsets. When you enter the car, iLane™ recognizes your handheld device and assumes control of how incoming information is managed, as based on your settings and preferences. iLane™ then communicates this information to your Bluetooth® headset or audio system, where it is read aloud. Responses and voice commands are transferred back to iLane™ via the headset's microphone (mouthpiece). Finally iLane™ provides the necessary instructions back to your handheld device, which acts accordingly. The entire process is automatic, instantaneous and seamless.

Personalization
iLane™ allows you to control exactly how in-vehicle information is managed. Using smart-filters and priority levels, you determine who can reach you while you're driving, and who can't. This is based on the email sender name, subject line, message keywords and other filters. Depending on these rules, messages from one contact are always read aloud, as are messages about certain subjects. Another contact would receive an auto-reply, and a third an auto-forwarded message. Notification frequency levels, time-sensitive rules and text-to-speech settings can also be personalized. Finally, you can also set preferences for phone calls, calendar requests and appointments, SMS messages and email attachments.

iLane™ is compatible with Bluetooth® enabled BlackBerry® handheld devices running the BlackBerry® OS 4.0 and up. iLane™ will also support Bluetooth® enabled handheld devices and smart-phones that run on the Palm® OS, Windows Mobile® OS and Symbian OS™. iLane™ is unique in that it doesn't require access to a remote server to convert email messages into voice files. All data is communicated directly between iLane™ and your handheld device. You don't have to "dial in" to retrieve your messages from a server; iLane™ reads them to you immediately and automatically.

Gaming Troika of DTH, DSL and Cable TV

Learning from worldwide DTH providers like BskyB, Canal Satellite and Sky Italia, Dish TV is going to be the first Indian DTH provider to venture into gaming services its set top boxes. Dish TV has tied up with US-based Open TV for this technology transfer at $100 million over 5 years. Playjam, a gaming product from the Open TV stable, would be rolled out by the end of this month. Though Dish TV would be the first to introduce VAS, others like Tata Sky, Sun TV and Anil Dhirubhai Ambani DTH (Bluemagic) ventures, may follow suit as competition heats up. Moreover, with India's regulatory body TRAI's denial regarding content exclusivity, providers would increasingly have to depend on VAS as a differentiating factor. With the parity in content, only price, brand, quality of service and VAS would be available to fight.

Others operators are also preparing for this new turf in a big way. ADAE aka Reliance has earmarked approx Rs 450 crore over next 3 years and now even your local cablewallah may start delivering games along with cable TV. With MSOs like Hindujas, Hathway and Siti Cable going digital and offering their customers set top boxes, games will be easy to deliver. Hathway is offerring a gaming channel to customers who buy its digital set top box. Subscribers will have access to a channel with 10 to 12 games initially. Other than cable TV, broadband is also witnessing some gaming bubbles. After Airtel's launch of Gaming On Demand (GoD), Reliance and Sify are also gearing for gaming portals. Clearly, the prospect of earning big bucks is what attracted even a multiplex chain like Cinemax to install personal computers at its Thane multiplex and create a Games Garage. The Garage is part of its gaming zone Giggles, which offers indoor bungee jumping, among other sports.

It’s estimated that the gaming market (minus mobile gaming) will touch Rs 229 crore this year. This might be the start of success story where India may follow the US where the gaming industry (Rs 1,80,000 crore) is bigger than Hollywood (Rs 1,37,000 crore)

English Channels to Change Indian Strategy

Action channel AXN is planning to change its content strategy for Indian TV audiences in the wake of changing habits as well as learning from other success stories. Taking the cue from Star India, it expects to increase its percentage of Indian programming content from the present 10 per cent to 25 per cent in future. With plans of taking the channel to hinterlands, the AXN is looking at localizing content to make it appealing to the masses. Having reduced its movies to 25 per cent of its programming content, there has been an added focus on its serials and special features to gain Indian viewership. Adapting its programmes such as Amazing Race Asia and the Man's World show for Indian audiences, AXN now intends having more shows, which are going to be relevant for Indian audiences. It has decided to focus on action sports and has recently launched a new show, `Fight Night', featuring martial arts and boxing.

New Genres
Channel is also planning to introduce new genres of channels through the DTH platform, which will be niche and premium in their offerings. We can definitely hope the same for IPTV subscribers in future. Tapping into new genres there are channels such as the Game Show Network, which focuses on the genre of gaming, which could possibly be introduced through the DTH platform in the country. AXN will also looking towards merchandising products such as T-shirts and apparel in near future and for the same AXN will be positioning itself as youth centric brand. Same strategy is being adopted by ZEE English, which has decided to move away from comedy and drama, its original positioning plank, and dabble in action programming instead. Sister channel ZEE MGM, meanwhile, is keen on acquiring movies from studios other than Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, its existing partner. The rationale, again, is to look at audiences beyond its traditional set of viewers.

AXN is already moving towards a strange concept of dabbling into Hindi feeds. Though restricted to reality shows such as Ripley's Believe it or Not, and action movies, it marked a break from its earlier stance of "only" English programming. Strange as it may sound, English channels beaming Hindi programmes is another strategy of getting more viewership. HBO's decision to telecast the Mummy trilogy (which is, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King) in Hindi was an initiative which paid off handsomely.

In all it shows that there will be a heated activity among broadcasters to launch new genres of channels to create a differentiation among plethora of choices but the moolah will come only from the content customization for Indian viewers as experienced by France telecom and PCCW. Interesting observations can be derived if someone can get hold of viewership data of Dish TV's premium channels.

Futuristic Mobile Phones

Phone giant Nokia, hooked 26 design students from London's Central St Martins College of Art and Design, into a contest to design the phones of 2015. Daniel Meyer, won the first prize which is shown below on the left. Phone's lower portion swivels to allow the phone to sit in a freestanding right angle and act as a picture frame. The handset has an inbuilt trackball that can act as a mouse. Following are the snaps of some futuristic phones










Blog Phone (Green Color Pic): This phone can take three forms: an open book, a slider; and a candy bar. Comes with a pen input and camera specifically for bloggers.

Wood Phone (Pale Color Pic): This is a green-themed and environmentally friendly phone, sized as a credit card and can be worn around the neck.

Robo Phone (Brownish Red Color Pic): The phone can double up as a security system for homes and pictures taken by the phone can be broadcasted to the Hello!'s owner via the web.

Smell Phone (Sky Blue Color Pic): Coined as 'Scentsory', by its designer this is an aromatherapy phone that allows users to share scents with each other.