IPTV Industry Leaders Offer Cost-Effective HD MPEG-4 Delivery Solution

SAN MATEO, California — Entone, Inc., an innovator of IPTV home connectivity solutions, today announced the launch of HD NOW™, a solution that enables IPTV service operators to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy high-definition (HD) services alongside their existing MPEG-2, IPTV infrastructure.

HD NOW is a fully-integrated HD MPEG-4 solution that complements existing MPEG-2 IPTV headend infrastructures, without the high costs of building out an MPEG-4 headend. HD NOW enables operators to offer HD as a premium service and creates a smooth transition path to additional revenue-generating services enabled by HD content. In addition to Entone’s Hydra IP Video Gateway, HD NOW utilizes SES AMERICOM’s HD-4 technology and includes options for best-in-class middleware and content security systems.

“Operators need to remain competitive as consumers demand more HD content. HD NOW minimizes the risks associated with complex technical build-outs, and provides a cost-effective, ‘out-of-the-box’ solution for delivering HD content,” comments Bill Squadron, President of SES Americom’s IP-PRIME® group.

“The HD NOW solution enables us to fill a void in the market,” says Steve McKay, CEO of Entone, Inc. “There are numerous operators who have successfully launched IPTV services but are challenged by the up-front costs of an HD service launch. HD NOW leverages their existing infrastructure and enables them to get up and running with significantly less risk than other options.”

HD NOW™ Benefits:

• Fully integrated HD MPEG-4 solution ready for deployment now
  • HD NOW can be deployed within 3-4 weeks
• Cost-effective solution allows service operators to instantly offer HD programming
  • Entone’s Hydra IP Video Gateway eliminates the need for a set-top box at each TV, saving both capital and operating costs
  • 32+ HD channels for the cost of 6 HD encoders
• Supplements existing MPEG-2, IPTV infrastructure
• Full DVR capabilities throughout the home
• Ease of installation and maintenance
  • Complete headend system in a rack
  • One video gateway per household