Entone Unveils Europe's First Multi-Stream IP Video Gateway at IBC 2008

SAN MATEO, California — Entone, Inc., the IPTV connected home company, will unveil its multi-stream Janus™ IP Video Gateway at the IBC show in Amsterdam next week (IBC IPTV Zone, Stand No. IP-333).

Derived from Entone’s market-leading Hydra IP Video Gateway platform, Janus supports simultaneous decoding of multiple video streams, both in high-definition (HD) and standard definition (SD). The Janus gateway is typically connected to a primary television set via a wide variety of cabling options, such as HDMI or SCART, and distributes video to other television sets in the home over a flexible variety of in-home networking options including coax, Ethernet, phone lines, power line, and wireless (802.11n).

In close collaboration with communications service operators, Entone has developed a European version of the Janus gateway that specifically addresses the requirements of the world’s largest IPTV market. Addressing the challenge of European operators in deploying IPTV services in multiple TV homes, Janus enables operators to support multi-tv homes with a single gateway device rather than requiring a collection of networked set-top boxes. With a gateway approach that supports multiple television sets, Janus also supports the customer self-installation model that is critical to European operators. With its flexible networking options, Janus is ideal for DSL and FTTH deployments.

Another feature of the European version of Entone’s Janus IP Video Gateway is its dual DVB-T tuner for digital terrestrial broadcasting reception. It also provides multiple storage capacity options for whole-home DVR capabilities. Janus supports media sharing within a home network for easy access to images, music and videos from anywhere in the home.

“In developing the Janus gateway, we worked closely with the European operators to make sure we addressed their key needs and challenges,” states Mark Evensen, VP of Product Development at Entone. “We heard loud and clear that the operators needed a solution for multiple television homes without requiring a home full of set-top boxes. We also understood the need for a hybrid DVB-T/IP support, and the ability for customers to self-install the solution in their homes.”

As with Entone’s Hydra IP Video Gateway, Janus also supports Entone’s first-to-market solution for whole-home DVR. With Janus, users can independently record, pause, play, rewind, and fast-forward live or recorded programming from any TV in their home network. With whole-home DVR, users can access recorded content and enjoy simultaneous recording and playback from any TV in the home with just a single Janus device.

Janus is currently being deployed by a number of European operators and is available immediately. A North American version of Janus will be available in the next quarter.

A live demonstration of the Entone Janus IP video gateway can be seen at IBC in Amsterdam at the Entone stand (IPTV ZONE IP-333). Additionally, Entone products will also be showcased at the following partner stands: Harmonic (1.C61), Latens (1.F30), Nagravision (1.D69), Nokia Siemens Networks (4.B51b), Verimatrix (4.B45), and Widevine (4.A59).