Dakta Central Telecommunications Selects APMAX Middleware
Posted by Steve Fravel on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 · 
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“The ability to run the middleware on the same platform that we are currently using for our voice services was an advantage both technically and economically,” commented Keith Larson, general manager of Dakota Central Telecommunications Cooperative. “The final piece that made sense for DCT was the Virtual Remote®, that lets our service center take control of the customer’s set-top-box (STB) without having to send a truck out, in some cases fifty miles or more. We believe this functionality will save us a lot of money over the long haul.”
DCT, faced with changing out its IPTV middleware platform elected to go with APMAX® from Innovative Systems to serve nearly 5000 subscribers in South Central North Dakota. Larson added, “Finding qualified people to maintain your system, especially in the head end and picking a stable middleware provider should be two of your high ranking considerations.” Read more
Cox Rolls Out a Low-Cost Package
Posted by Steve Fravel on Sunday, January 29, 2012 · ·
As American consumers find themselves with less discretionary income and more video choices, large cable operators are seeking new ways to attract and retain subscribers. Last year, Time Warner Cable rolled out a $29.99 TV Essentials plan and Comcast soon followed with a $24.95 offering. It is worth noting that neither line-up includes ESPN, often the most expensive of the program networks.
This past week, Cox Cable followed suit and un-wrapped a new collection called TV Economy priced at $34.99. It also does not include ESPN. When comparing the low-cost packages with the typical expanded basic packages that might run in the $60 to $80 per month range, the multi-system operators may have created a small “bridge” to get them past the continued drain due to high consumer retail rates.
Looking ahead, one must wonder if consumers will be willing to forgo access to certain expensive programming in exchange for lower video bills. Time and continued package modification will tell.
Boxee Adds a Second Target Buyer
Posted by Steve Fravel on Sunday, January 29, 2012 · ·
Though Boxee has been targeting residential customers who are “cutting the cord” to conventional cable services and satellite subscriptions, it announced last week that it would add cable operators who may be considering eliminating program costs and shifting their focus to selling just high-speed Internet access. Read more
ATIS PSTN Transition Team in Place and More
Posted by Steve Fravel on Sunday, January 29, 2012 · ·
ATIS last week announced the launch of its Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Transition Landscape Team. According to ATIS, this unit will be making high-level assessments of issues associated with the transition from the PSTN to IP-based networks.
In addition to extensive evaluation of replacement network architecture and engineering, the group said the transition team will provide documentation detailing requirements for telecommunications services and new networks along with answering the question of whether new standards should be developed to accommodate IP telephony as the successor to PSTN. The team will look at regulatory implications concerning the proliferation of voice-over-IP (VoIP) and over-the-top (OTT) content provision along with security and implications and goals for the public. Read more
TouchTV
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, January 20, 2012 · ·
A free iPad app, called the “world’s first TV iPad app,” was released this week. Called Touchtv, the app reportedly has content from Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC, ESPN, OWN and E!.
The SkyGrid design will allow viewers to add more channels and personalize their Touchtv. SkyGrid reports that LG will incorporate Touchtv into the LG smart TVs. The SkyGrid download page also includes a version for Android.
Quick Stats
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, January 20, 2012 · ·
According to comScore Video Metrix service, online video usage increased again in the final month of 2011. comScore notes that 182 million Internet users in the United States watched 43.5 billion videos. The average Internet video user devoted 23.2 hours to watching online video during December 2011.
According to the Diffusion Group: 64% of connected Smart TV owners use WiFi.
Live from CES 2012
Posted by Kevin McGuire on Friday, January 13, 2012 · (2) ·
The following is a guest post from Kevin McGuire, vice president of wireless operations for Enhanced Telecommunications Corp., in Sunman, Indiana.
Another year, another CES is upon us. My sense is that it is much larger than last year’s event. The first day on the show floor I was unable to have a conversation with a vendor because so many people were there. Like in years past, I wanted to write a guest post to offer some insight into items I feel might be of importance to the rural telecom industry. Of course the show is so big that it is impossible to get to everything, so apologies if I missed something. Read more