Toshiba and Netgem partner to connect TVs to the Interactive world

Adapter enables customers to access Connected TV services portal: Toshiba Places; Toshiba Places, the complete connected TV solution

PARIS — Toshiba (Tokyo:6502) and Netgem (Paris: NTG FP 7537; ETGM) today announce the launch of a multifunction adapter for the French market, which provides access to Toshiba Places. The multifunction adapter enables users to connect their digital TVs to a world of online interactive services, which have been fully optimised for the TV experience. It allows consumers to access a range of entertainment services, including video on demand, as well as share their multimedia content with relatives and connect to services and information from the Internet.

This is the first deployment of Toshiba Places, which is enabled through Netgem’s device and middleware expertise. This multifunction adapter has been designed to connect any flat screen TV to the Toshiba Places portal. It initiates a new era for television through its interactive access to multimedia content.

Netgem: TV experience enriched by the power of Internet

Netgem, a leader in connected entertainment, provides Toshiba with a platform for the development and deployment of innovative connected TV services. The launch of Toshiba Places demonstrates how Netgem’s middleware and hardware technologies enable new business models through the deployment of connected home entertainment services.

Commenting on this new partnership, Christophe Aulnette, Netgem’s managing director, said: “Working with Toshiba, one of the global leaders in consumer electronics, to develop new interactive solutions for connected TVs, is the first success for our “Netbox inside” strategy. Our vision is that one day all TVs will be connected to the Internet.”

The Toshiba Multifunction Adapter developed with Netgem is a customised version of the new Netgem N5000 platform that was announced at the IBC 2010 show. It offers simple, visually rich and intuitive navigation combining DTT broadcast channels with the added value services available through the Toshiba Places portal.

The adapter offers Ethernet, WiFi and HDMI connectivity with advanced multimedia functionality to access stored content such as videos, photos and music and is UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) for an easier integration to a Home Network. The device ships with 4 gigabytes of Flash memory to ensure the best possible Video on Demand quality and a DTT-HD tuner, which allows navigation between TV and interactive services through a single remote control.

“Having such an innovative partner as Netgem cooperating in this ambitious project was really valuable. Toshiba Places is an example of rich and efficient cooperation between different players in our ecosystem,” said Philippe Delahaye, president of Toshiba Systems France.

Toshiba Places, a new technology innovation for the digital home

Toshiba Places offer many benefits including:

• A Multifunction STB (Ethernet and WiFi access, HDTV tuner, UPnP) to connect your TV to Toshiba Places services.
• Access to the web portal from all screens in the home (main and secondary TVs, tablet, etc”¦) giving access to a large range of services.

Leveraging the Internet and meeting the promise of “cloud computing”, Toshiba considerably enriches multi-screen connectivity.

Price and access conditions: access to Toshiba Places is free and available to all.

• From a PC, you just need to register at http://www.toshibaplaces.com/.
• From a TV, you need to buy a Toshiba Multifunction STB (RRP €99 available from October 2010*).

Toshiba Places is also available via the Toshiba Folio 100 Tablet.

*Available in France in October 2010, coming to other European countries in 2011.