Powering The On-Demand TV Generation

Press Release

Comtrend Selects Espial Escape to Power New IPTV Set-Top Box

July 20, 2005
Untitled Document

 

• Espial® Escape™ browser provides advanced HTML and Web Standards support that enables IPTV service providers to create revenue-generating interactive portal services and offer an engaging Internet on TV experience.
• Comtrend’s IPTV Triple Play Box, CT-702, is a flexible and cost-effective Set-Top Box that meets the demands for a multimedia IPTV application.

China Broadband Triple Play & IPTV Conference, Beijing, China (Stand A8)— July 20, 2005 – Espial® , a leading provider of client IPTV applications and middleware, today announced that Comtrend Corporation, a global manufacturer of telecommunications solutions, has selected Espial Escape™ for its new IPTV Triple Play box. The new set-top box will be demonstrated at Espial's stand (A8) at the China Broadband Triple Play & IPTV conference July 20-22, 2005 .

Espial software enables IPTV set-top box manufacturers to easily port and integrate advanced HTML browsing capabilities onto their platform. By leveraging the Espial Escape browser, Comtrend allows their customers to create revenue-generating services. Telcos and operators can easily develop standards-based interactive portal services to deliver news, weather, sports or games, while also providing an engaging Internet on TV experience to their consumers.

Comtrend's IPTV Triple Play box, CT-702, is powered by embedded Linux and the INTEL IXP425 chip to deliver broadband TV and Video On Demand (VOD) over the Internet. Built with High Definition (HD) video technology, the CT-702 is designed to run with HDTV sets. In addition, the CT-702 provides VoIP, broadband router functions to ease the use of home networking. Comtrend's CT-702 with Espial Escape will display attractive new interfaces and content that can be quickly developed and updated remotely or on site, ensuring maximum uptake on all revenue generating services.

“Espial's leadership position and experience in the IPTV market gave us the confidence to know that we could quickly and easily integrate Espial Escape onto our set-top box,” said Frank Chuang, Marketing Director of Comtrend. “Espial Escape is highly portable and is focused on TV feature requirements including easy customization and a TV-friendly design. Espial provides a solution that allows carriers to maximize their revenues by creating new interactive portal content services along with Internet on TV – two crucial elements for any telecommunications carrier.”

The modular architecture of Espial Escape ensures that carriers who deploy the Comtrend offering can introduce new services as the need arises. Easily portable to different chips used in leading designs, Espial Escape can also be readily integrated with any middleware supplier.

“Comtrend's vision of providing new applications and services on its set-top box has been reached by selecting Espial as its browser component,” said Dilshan De Silva, Director of Marketing for Espial's browser business. “Deploying with Espial Escape will allow Comtrend to bring more successful services to their customers in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Having deployed in over 100 environments, Espial provides the confidence to manufacturers and carriers that they will provide a very successful offering.” 

Learn more about how Espial Escape is helping set-top box manufacturers around the globe deliver innovative new products and services.

— 30 —

About Espial
Espial is a leading provider of client applications and middleware for set-top boxes and consumer electronic devices. Espial applications and technologies include Video On Demand, Electronic Program Guides, User Settings Management, Interactive Content Portals, and Web browsing. The company is the recipient of the Deloitte and Touche 'Fast 500' top companies in North America , two years running. Espial software is deployed and accredited for more than 100 consumer designs such as Motorola, Siemens, Sumitomo Electric Networks, Thomson, Philips, LodgeNet, OnCommand, S-Net Systems, and i3Micro Technologies. Espial can be found on the web at www.espial.com .

About Comtrend Corporation
With nearly five million products installed, Comtrend is established as one of the leading suppliers of DSL equipment in the world. Comtrend offers a broad array of leading edge, high-quality, DSL products that embeds ADSL, ADSL2+ and Bonded ADSL2+ technologies to support triple-play voice, video and data applications including IP-Video, VoIP, optional WiFi drops and industry standard QOS with VLAN traffic assignment, IGMP Snooping and IGMP proxy which provides efficient traffic management and control in IP multicast applications. Comtrend is a global company with headquarters in Irvine , California , Madrid , Spain and Taipei , Taiwan . For more information, visit the Comtrend web site at: www.comtrend.com

Media Contact:
Meredith Dundas
Marketing Communications Manager, Espial
(613) 230-4770 ext. 1142
mdundas@espial.com

 

Find Out More

Espial

To learn more about Espial, contact us today.