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  • Sony Launches Flagship HD Handycam


    Sony has announced two new flash memory-based high definition camcorders – the HDR-CX520V and the HDR-CX500V.

    Both cameras capture full 1920 x 1080 resolution video and up to 12 megapixel photos on internal flash memory.

    They offer support for up to 25 hours of HD video on the 64GB model.

    Among the features of both cameras are the ability to output 60p video – automatically converting convert to 60 frames per second on compatible HDTV sets.

    The camcorder’s Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode now comes with three way Shake Canceling.

    This reduces camera/hand shake in three different directions – the vertical and horizontal shake is corrected by optical image stabilization system while the lateral roll shake is now corrected by electronic image stabilization.

    There’s also the BIONZ imaging processor which now adds a Face Touch function. With Face Touch, users simply select a person to be prioritized by the camcorder simply by touching a detected face on the screen.

    Once a face is selected, the camcorder prioritizes and optimizes focus, skin color, and brightness for that selected individual.

    Other features include:

    • Back illuminated "Exmor R" CMOS sensor with twice the sensitivity of current front-illuminated CMOS sensor at F2.0
    • Built-in GPS antenna and NAVTEQ digital maps can geo-tag your videos and photos
    • Supports optional DVDirect Express DVD writer
    • Built-in zoom microphone with Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound
    • Instant power-on feature when the LCD is opened
    • User interface comes with new operation bar for scroll searching of all menu items and a customizable shortcut menu
    • Highlight Scenario which saves up to 8 highlight scenes for viewing again later on
    • Record content onto optional Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX media

    The HDR-CX500V and HDR-CX520V will be available in September for approximately USD $1100 and $1300 respectively.

    The HDR-CX500V comes with 32B of internal flash memory while the HDR-CX520V comes with 64GB of internal flash memory.

  • Bristol Interactive Offers TV With PC – Not PC With TV


    Being able to Skype or IM with your favorite app from your HDTV would be pretty useful.

    Well, Bristol Interactive has developed a digital TV with an in-built Atom-powered netbook that would appear to allow users to do just that.

    While there are plenty of PCs on the market with TV tuners – the UK-based television manufacturer is producing 22" and 32" TVs with a gig of memory, a 160GB hard drive, four USB ports, and an Ethernet port.

    The as-yet unnamed devices work as normal TVs, but hit one button and the screen flips across to Windows XP and full netbook mode.

    Screen resolution is 1680 x 1050 pixels – certainly a lot more than you get on a netbook.

    The sets also come with a wireless keyboard with integrated track (mouse).

    Paul Fellows, CEO, of UK-based Bristol Interactive, said the two models are regular TVs but have the convenience of an ultra-compact PC built inside.

    He said they instantly switch between TV mode and PC mode, with no wait for the PC to boot up or log out.

    The TV, which operates independently of Windows, is always instantly available at the touch of a remote control button.

    Fellows said the TVs don’t have Wi-Fi – because of the reliability issues and the potential for support costs.

    Bristol expects to launch the system in October, with 22" models being sold for under GBP £500.

  • Home Networking Over Coax & Phone Wiring to Double in Two Years


    Demand for web video on TVs and whole-home DVR capability is driving demand for coax and phoneline networking, according to In-Stat.

    This is making it an increasingly important solution for home network connectivity, particularly for service provider provisioned networks.

    So much so that In-Stat forecasts that cumulative households with an in-home provider network utilizing coax/phoneline technology in North America will more than double from 2008 to 2010.

    Joyce Putscher, In-Stat analyst, said consumers want web video on their TV and also increasingly want whole-home DVR capability.

    "Networking over coax makes particularly good sense in North America where 90 per cent of homes have pre-existing coax wiring," she said.

    The recent research by In-Stat found the following:

    • In 2010, average PC home network throughput will exceed 150 Mbps in North America, ahead of throughput in Asia/Pacific and European households.
    • Nearly 2/3 of consumer respondents from In-Stat’s survey expressed an interest in watching Internet Video on their TV
    • Two segregated home networks (HN) have been evolving– A service provider-centric network, and a PC-centric network. Each is leveraging different business models and technologies

  • Demand for VoIP Solutions Likely to Rise with Spread of Satellite Broadband Technology


    VoIP solutions are likely to benefit from more people around the world seeking to access the internet using satellite technology, according to research from Global Industry Analysts.

    The technology has been tipped as a possible way to provide broadband services in more remote, rural communities where it will be much more difficult to deploy conventional broadband infrastructure.

    The analysts said this could mean that web users have better use of VoIP solutions and are able to access high-speed downloads many miles from the nearest telephone exchange.

    The study said: "The satellite broadband’s capability to extend unique services such as rural telephony, e-distance learning and telemedicine services is enticing the prospective market participants in a major way."

    It added that the value of the satellite broadband market could reach nearly GBP £4 billion within six years if the interest and subsequent take-up continues to grow.

  • Acme Packet SBCs for IMS Chosen by Two Euro Carriers


    Acme Packet has been selected by two European operators to provide them with IMS-based services.

    Telefonica O2 Germany and Telnor Sweden are to use Acme Packet Net-Net 4000 series session border controllers (SBCs) at access and interconnect borders for IMS services.

    Telefónica O2 Germany will use Acme Packet’s SBCs to provide key IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) functionality at its access and interconnect borders.

    The Net-Net Session Director (SD) enables the company to deploy a secure and interoperable IMS network supporting residential retail and wholesale VoIP services and IP interconnects with other service providers.

    Telenor Sweden, the second-largest service provider in Sweden, will also use SBCs to control the access and IP interconnect borders to its IMS data centers.

    Currently Telenor Sweden offers hosted business unified communications using its IMS service infrastructure.

    Seamus Hourihan, VP marketing and product management, Acme Packet

    Seamus Hourihan, vice president of marketing and product management for Acme Packet, said IMS had passed the hype stage but actual deployments had now arrived.

    He said the majority of current deployments of IMS are in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region but in Latin America and North America is growing.

    "Acme Packet Net-Net SBCs provide critical access and interconnect border functions—securing service elements, maximizing service reach and assuring SLAs—that enable service providers to deliver IMS-based services to business and residential customers," he said.

  • Digital Vision Launches USB Flash Drive DVR


    Digital Vision has launched the first USB flash drive-based digital video recorder (DVR).

    The UK company says its GiGo DV-DTR1 Digital TV recorder allows users to record content and then view it on devices such as laptops.

    Programmes are recorded in MPEG-2 format direct to any storage device plugged in to one of the DVR’s three front-facing USB ports.

    Playback is via the GiGo or via any device that supports MPEG-2 – allowing recorded content to be played on the move.

    Digital Vision said the GiGo box will be available from September for GBP £69.99 initially, although this will probably drop to £59.99.

    Functionalities include:

    • Record and playback digital TV
    • Copy from one device to another
    • Schedule recordings from the EPG onto three separate devices

  • MEDION Unveils Mobile HD Netbook


    MEDION has unveiled its next generation netbook – with an 11.6" HD display and ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 graphics.

    The AKOYA MINI E1312 appears to offer fast performance for its class. Equipped with AMD Sempron processor 210U power saving technology and 160 GB hard disk, the netbook is definitely geared at HD entertainment on the move.

    The TFT widescreen display presents HD resolution with 1366×768 pixels in a cinematic 16:9 format.

    The netbook also includes an HDMI output should users want to watch movies or look at photos on a larger screen.

    MEDION says the E1312’s 160GB S-ATA hard disk can comfortably hold over 30,000 songs or photos.

    It has a 6-cell Li-Ion battery (9-cell battery optional) and an in-flight mode to conveniently shut down all radio communications while on board a plane.

    There is also an integrated 1.3 MP webcam including microphone and Bluetooth 2.1.

    Connectivity options include three USB 2.0 ports, a 3-in-1 multi-format memory card reader, 802.11b/g/draft-n fast wireless networking capability and a 10/100MBit/s Ethernet port for high-speed file transfers.

    Available later this month in the UK and Ireland, it will be priced at GBP £339.99 and comes with a three-year warranty at no extra cost.

  • Consumer LBS Market to Double, "Free" Services to Gain


    Worldwide consumer location-based services (LBS) subscribers and revenue are expected to more than double in 2009.

    The growth is being driven by the higher availability of GPS-enabled phones, reduced prices and the appearance of application stores, according to Gartner.

    Research from the firm’s analysts shows that despite an expected 4 per cent decrease in mobile device sales, LBS subscribers are forecast to grow from 41.0 million in 2008 to 95.7 million in 2009.

    They calculate that revenue is anticipated to increase from USD $998.3 million in 2008 to USD $2.2 billion in 2009.

    Annette Zimmermann, senior research analyst at Gartner, said the LBS industry has matured rapidly in recent months through a mixture of consolidation, improved price/performance of the enabling technologies and compelling location applications.

    "Factors driving the increase in the next year or so include higher availability of GPS-enabled phones, reduced prices and appearance of application stores," she said.

    Gartner predicts that advertising-based or ‘free’ LBS (disregarding data charges by mobile carriers) will gain more traction as users adopt it as a way to limit costs.

    Mobile carriers that stick to the current predominant business model of charging users USD $5 to $10 per month plus data plans will experience high churn rates as users will look for free alternatives.

    In North America and Western Europe, the share of users taking advantage of free services is approximately 10-15 per cent today and is expected to grow to 40-50 per cent in 2013.

    Zimmermann said the competitive landscape will change and most mobile carriers need to alter their approach toward offering LBS and dealing with developers.

    "Subscriber growth will hinge on "free" – disregarding data charges – services," she said.

    "Mobile operators’ initiatives to open up the application programming interface (API) to third-party developers will help them compete against other players in the market and will also be beneficial to the different parties involved, down to the end user."

    Gartner expects more compelling and useful applications and services to come to market in the next 12 to 18 months such as digital coupons to be redeemed in a nearby shop and points-of-interest search services.

    Smaller niche players will survive in local markets only when they have an established user base and unique offering that larger players cannot compete with. Other players will be acquisition targets for larger vendors.

    The Gartner analysts said LBS market dynamics vary by region. For example, North America is the largest market due to mobile carriers’ strong efforts in navigation services and family-safety solutions.

    In Western Europe, navigation is currently the most used application, followed by local search and "friend finder." There is still no significant uptake of safety applications.

    Japan will continue to see steady growth as GPS has been required by law in mobile phones since 2007.

    In Asia/Pacific, during the summer Olympics, location services were for the first time offered in China which is now an advertising-based solution and free to the user.

  • TELES Unveils ISDN VoIP Gateway with 8 BRI Interfaces


    TELES has launched a new 8 BRI port VoIP Gateway.

    The Berlin-based next generation networks and access gateway vendor said the product has been designed to meet demand for a high density, high performance solution for connecting enterprises to public telephony.

    Avi Ben Shlush, product marketing director at TELES, said the new product will allow VoIP service providers and system integrators to can offer a broader range of customers a straightforward migration path to VoIP – without having to sacrifice existing investment in PBX infrastructure.

    He said that as well as contributing to a substantial reduction in operating costs, the TELES VoIPBOX BRI also provides enhanced functionality.

    This includes:

    • an integrated, feature-rich IP PBX-in-a-box
    • advanced LCR functionality with AOC generation
    • SRTP protocol support
    • multiple media handling features

    Shlush said the VoIPBOX BRI is designed for a smooth and fast installation and is provided with an intuitive installation wizard for increased productivity.

    He said a comprehensive set of management tools allow customers to provision and operate small to large installations from a single location using either a web-based management tool or TELES NMS.

    "The implementation of TELES VoIPBOX BRI together with our C5 Business Trunking and IP Centrex products also enables our customers to offer a fully integrated solution from a single vendor," he said.

  • snom: Drive to Unified Communications Remains Strong


    Mike Storella, director of business development at VoIP phone maker snom, believes unified communications is the strongest segment in the communications industry.

    As customers look to become leaner and meaner, he stresses the advantages offered by wireless technology, such as WiFi, saying he feels it should be "everywhere".

    "Our latest snom VoIP Desk phone 8xx series all do WiFi, I don’t know the percentages but it is drastically less expensive to deploy an all WiFi office eliminating cat5 cable runs and increased Ethernet switch deployments," he said.

    Headquartered in Germany, snom has a range of eight VoIP business phones and is a worldwide provider. It works with any platform that uses the SIP protocols for VoIP.

    In an interview with TMCnet, Storella said the company has learnt that ROI "rules the day" for customers to make a positive choice to buy a replacement solution for their voice communications.

    He said the economic situation hasn’t affected the company’s decisions to invest in markets and products.

    "Times might be tough, but it is no time to lose faith that your products solve problems and needs for customers as they try to compete better in their business," he said.

    "If our products do what we say they do, customers need them to increase their productivity."