31 August 2000
Do gamers really want Web access?
Maybe game consoles won't replace PCs after all. That's one conclusion of a new study conducted by market researcher International Data Corp. (see article)
30 August 2000
Web-ready TV will speed European Internet access according to study
Most Europeans will opt to use their televisions, rather than PCs, to get connected to the Internet over the next few years, according to new study by Forrester Research (see press release) (see article)
27 August 2000
Digital set-top boxes free in UK
According to an article in the Sunday Times millions of householders are to be given free digital set-top boxes under plans by the UK government. (see 27 August 2000 issue)
25 August 2000
Finnish VDSL Developer Moves Into Scandinavia
Finland's pioneer of "Very-high-speed Digital Subscriber Line" technology VDSL Systems has recently expanded into Denmark to serve the whole Scandinavian region.
VDSL Systems designs high-speed broadband equipment that can integrate with conventional telephone networks. The company's products exploit the theoretical maximum available transmission capacity over traditional copper lines. VDSL technology has the capacity to run uplink speeds at over thirty times the speed of ADSL, with uploading and downloading speeds capable of reaching 26Mbps. VDSL technology will enable the highly cost-efficient implementation of services such as video-on-demand, video conferencing, as well as super-fast Internet connections. (see press release) (see article)
22 August 2000
PC & Digital TV Technologies Come Together On Broadband
14 information technology (IT) and broadcasting firms have come together today to launch the PC DTV Forum, an industry body formed to promote digital broadcast technology for the TV. (see press release) (see article)
17 August 2000
Almost 20% of UK households subscribe to Digital TV
Almost 1 in 5 households now subscribe to digital tv, according to a new survey published by Oftel. One third of these households have subscribed to digital tv without previously having had analogue cable or satellite services.
The survey reveals that the greater choice of channels that digital tv offers is the key incentive for take up, with fewer than 1 in 5 people using the interactive services such as home shopping and e-mail.
Those that had used interactive services rated them as good for ease of use, range of services available, speed and security, while just over 40 per cent of non-users said they were likely to use the shopping services in the future.
The survey also shows subscription to digital TV is greatest amongst the higher income groups (31 per cent), and is lowest amongst older consumers (10 per cent) and lower income groups (14 per cent). (Full press release)
16 August 2000
Internet: Digital TV and Mobile Access Set For Strong Growth
There are now over 17.5 million British adults – two in five of the population - using the Internet, according to an NOP survey published today.
The Internet User Profile Survey found that 38% of adults had used the Internet in the last 12 months, while 45% said that they expected to use it in the next 12 months. Although Web access is currently through the ubiquitous PC, the stage is set for significant change in the next 12 months.
As many as a quarter of current Web users expect to access via a digital TV within the next 12 months, closely followed by the 23% who expect to be accessing through a mobile phone; 14% say that they will be using a PDA. Meanwhile, despite their mixed reception so far, WAP phones are now in 2% of Internet homes and 2 million Internet users claim interest in acquiring one. (Full press release) (article)
15 August 2000
UPC warns Microsoft on delay
14 August 2000
US alliance to send Video-On-Demand on Web
11 August 2000
Microsoft seen missing key test on interactive TV
10 August 2000
NTL plays down merger talk
There is speculation that NTL, the UK's largest cable operator, is about to merge with Telewest, the UK other cable operator. (Article)
9 August 2000
MyReplayTV
US based ReplayTV, Inc. announced MyReplayTV, a revolutionary feature creating an entirely new way for people to interact with television programming and related information. MyReplayTV creates for the first time, a web portal where viewers can find out about TV programming, gather additional information about shows of interest and control the ReplayTV Service and digital video recorder via the web. (Full press release) (article)
8 August 2000
vTrails develops multi-user site surfing technology
Israeli hi tech start up, vTrails Ltd. has introduced its patent-pending technology, Full Duplex Packet Cascading or (FDPC), which enables thousands of surfers to visit websites at the same time that are serving, streaming or broadcasting rich media content, consuming a fraction of the resources that are usually required, without crashing the site. (Full press release) (article) (article)
7 August 2000
ICE Interactive announces the first rural pilot of 'connected', (two-way) interactive television (iTV) in Australia
ICE Interactive Limited have announced that they will conduct the first rural pilot of 'connected', two-way, interactive television (iTV) in and around Orange, New South Wales. Orange has been selected as the location of the pilot because it is located in the middle of several townships and satellite villages that have experienced a reduction in services, such as banking and retail, during the last 30 years.
The company was formed on the 2nd February 2000 as a joint venture between Oracle Corporation Australia, Liberate Technologies and Burdekin Pacific Limited. Their primary focus is developing the software and applications to deliver information and entertainment services to consumers via the set-top box - a low-cost, easy to use device for facilitating the interactive technology. This software platform allows for the integration of broadcast television, Internet content and other online services. (Full press release) (article)
Telewest cuts cost of UK high speed Internet service
Telewest have announced that their high speed Internet service, called Blueyonder and launched in March 2000, will now be available for a monthly charge of 33 pounds instead of 50 pounds. Blueyonder is the UK's first high speed broadband Internet service available via cable for home computers. It is currently available in the South-East and North-West of England and the Edinburgh area of Scotland, but will soon be rolled out to over Telewest regions throughout the UK. (Full press release)
Excite@Home and Media 100 Launch Innovative Internet Video Broadband Application to Create Virtual Online Film Studio
4 August 2000
Telewest video-on-demand commercial trial
Telewest's latest interim report claims that it has the UK largest commercial trial of video-on-demand services via cable with 27,500 homes in the south east of England. They are continuing to evaluate the technical results and customer satisfaction and expect a full commercial launch in early 2001. (Earlier press release)
Telewest picture gloomy as set-top boxes are delayed
Telewest delays digital TV
Telewest has recently experienced temporary problems in the UK supplying demand for digital TV because of a short-term supply problem with set-top boxes. (Article) (Interim report)
Blockbuster's Broadband Future
3 August 2000
SpinDev Broadband Media Changes Name to SpinTV
US based SpinDev Broadband Media, a company originally dedicated to the development of dynamic web creations using broadband technologies, announced it has changed its name to SpinTV. (Full press release)
International study on interactive TV usability
Electronic Ink, a Philadelphia-based digital product design firm, announced recently that it will head a study focusing on interactive television. The study will test the usability of interactive television; focusing on the profiles, needs and requirements of the users to ultimately determine the success of interactive television as a consumer product.
The unique study will be done in conjunction with Electronic Ink's London office, the United Kingdom's Loughborough University and students from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. The study will begin with a survey of current WebTV users in the United States and iTV users in London. Representative end users will also be recruited to further investigate the usability of interactive television. Completion of the study is targeted for September 2000. (Full press release) An online survey for WebTV users is also available.
27 Million Europeans Will Have Broadband Internet Access By 2005, According To Forrester
Only 0.2% of European households had broadband Internet access in 1999, but as the barriers drop one by one, this number will grow to 18%, or 27 million broadband subscribers by 2005 according to a new Report by Forrester Research. (Full press release)
Energis launches digital interactive TV service
Energis, the UK's leading business communications and Internet company, has announced its entry into the Interactive Digital TV market with a unique 'multi-channel' package for corporate content providers. Energis has formed a joint venture with advanced software developer, Graham Technology, to provide a fully integrated solution to companies wishing to provide interactive digital TV services to their customers. Initially provided through the digital satellite platform, the unique technology will ultimately allow companies to offer their products and services across interactive TV, Internet, WAP and EPOC platforms, using the same seamless interface.
Companies will be able to access a larger consumer market than is possible using existing platforms, due to a superior technical solution that allows applications across a wide range of distribution channels, and through use of the award winning Energis network and hosting facilities. (Full press release) Articles - "Energis tunes into digital TV", "Energis forms interactive TV venture"1 August 2000
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