Harris' Networking Encoders Complete Testing For Use With Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol TV

Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, has announced that the Harris NetVX range of H.264/MPEG-4 standard-definition (SD) video networking encoders has successfully completed encoder conformance testing for use with the award-winning Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) and multimedia software platform.
The test was administered by Microsoft Corporation as part of the Microsoft Mediaroom Interoperability and Qualification Lab programme, which is intended to enable the ongoing interoperability and compliance of encoders used in Microsoft Mediaroom deployments.
NetVX SD video encoding lets service providers offer a high quality and cost-effective platform for their IPTV deployments. It also allows IPTV service providers using this encoding at the head-end to seamlessly communicate with the set-top receiving device for the delivery of IPTV multimedia services to the consumer.
Tim Thorsteinson, President of Harris Broadcast Communications, said: "Harris Corporation's investment in interoperability testing extends across the entire broadcast community and into the growing IPTV space, enabling our products and technologies to be reliable and efficient for virtually any application requiring the delivery of high-quality video. We are pleased to announce compliance of our NetVX encoding products for Microsoft Mediaroom and Microsoft recognition of our commitment to provide interoperable solutions for the IPTV market."
Joe Seidel, Director of Global Partner Ecosystems for Microsoft Mediaroom, said: "The Harris NetVX SD video encoding solution gives our service provider customers another way to help reduce costs and improve the overall performance of their Microsoft Mediaroom-based TV services. We are looking forward to our ongoing collaboration with Harris to help service providers offer their customers the very best in connected TV services."
The Microsoft Mediaroom platform, which reached 1 million subscriber homes in the first quarter of 2008, is now powering connected TV services on more than 2 million TV sets worldwide - it took Mediaroom 18 months to reach its first million TVs and only five months, more than three times faster, to reach its second million TVs.
NetVX video networking encoders are among the wide range of Harris solutions that optimise the networking and infrastructure workflows of today's broadcast and IPTV operations.
Harris Broadcast Communications provides products, systems and services that deliver interoperable workflow solutions that span the entire broadcast delivery chain. The Harris ONE approach brings together highly integrated and cost-effective products that are ideal for emerging media business models and for customers upgrading media operations to digital and high-definition services.
Further information is available at: www.microsoft.com/tv and www.harris.com.
(KMcA/JM)