Motorola Previews STBs, Mobile TV Package

Looking to help cablecos keep pace in the HD race, Motorola on Thursday announced its first set-top boxes to support MPEG-4 video compression and DVR features, along with a complete package for offering mobile video services.

Motorola also will showcase at the Consumer Electronics Show next week a pocket-sized personal media player that supports the DVBH broadcasting standard, an adapter that connects computers to a WiMAX network and an advanced home connectivity device.

A longtime STB provider, Motorola’s prior devices supported the older MPEG-2 video encoding standard which required more bandwidth to deliver fewer HD streams than the newer and more powerful MPEG-4 scheme. The vendor’s new DCX units are designed for cabelcos.

The Mobile TV DH 101 personal media player is part of a comprehensive package of equipment, software and services that carriers need to enable their residential customers to enjoy content anytime and anywhere, whether live or stored. The device itself features a 4.3-inch screen and a five-minute buffer for pause during live TV viewing.

Specifically, Motorola’s mobile TV package includes DVBH transmission network equipment, video headend center gear, an interactive applications services delivery platform, services to design, deploy and optimize the network, applications services and devices.

Finally, Motorola announced the SURFboard SBV5422, which it said brings converged voice and data in a single unit to provide whole-home phone and high-speed data over a cable’s broadband connection.

The new unit enables IP telephony, high-speed data and new cordless phone technology that can help operators cut costs by having consumers install the device, reducing the need for expensive and resource-draining truck rolls.

Motorola Inc. www.motorola.com

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