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  • Can Blu-ray Now Be Regarded As"Mainstream"?


    Sales of Blu-ray discs have climbed to such an extent in Europe that the high-def format is now officially "mainstream".

    At least that’s according to the cross-industry trade body, Digital Entertainment Group Europe(DEGE).

    Funded by the major Hollywood studios, the group says sales of Blu-ray software – which doesn’t include PS3 games titles – has increased five-fold in Europe, from 1.7 million units in 2007 to almost 8.5 million in 2008.

    This has no doubt been helped in part by the falling price of the discs, which are now approaching the level of DVDs.

    But the rising number of Blu-ray disc player owners is also fuelling demand for the software.

    Dedicated deck sales in the UK reached 100,000 in December.

    According to the DEGE, there are now over 2.1 million Blu-ray capable games consoles and standalone players in the UK, almost 1.4 million in France and over a million in Germany.

  • Sony Plans Movie and Game on Blu-ray Disc


    Sony is planning on creating a hybrid Blu-ray – with a game and movie on the same disc.

    The move is being viewed as a way to boost the appeal of the Playstation 3 in the face of falling prices for Blu-ray players and the increasing popularity of games consoles such as Wii and XBOX 360.

    The company is currently working on making the most of Blu-ray’s 50GB capacity by basically burning a full-length feature film to the empty space on a game-disc, which typically only uses around 30GB.

    Sony’s director of hardware marketing, John Koller, said that there will be as many as two or three releases of the new hybrid discs this year.

    "There are a lot of developers who say, we have this game based on a movie, wouldn’t it be great to marry these concepts? We will definitely see this stuff this year," Koller told VideoBusiness.

    Whether there is sufficient appeal in movie-based games remains to be seen – especially if Sony refuses to drop the prices of the PS3.

  • Vopium Launches Mobile VoIP Service In The UK


    Vopium has launched its mobile VoIP service in the UK with the promise of low-cost and free international mobile phone calls.

    The service is a free software program that uses mobile VoIP and Wi-Fi technology to reduce the cost of international phone calls on mobile.

    Vopium integrates directly with the address book on the phone, automatically re-routing all international calls via the least expensive method available.

    The service also offers users the ability to send text messages (SMS) abroad at what it says are low rates – for UK users, 9p.

    Callers are also able to make free and discounted calls using Vopium Wi-Fi.

    Tanveer Sharif, CEO of Vopium

    Tanveer Sharif, CEO of Vopium, said: "We are delighted to be able to offer low-cost and free calling options to UK mobile users who want an affordable and convenient way to make international calls."

    Users have to instal Vopium for free onto their mobile handset.

    To get started, mobile subscribers then have to either visit the Vopium website or send a text message with “Get” to 07781480717.

    The company said that once registered, all new users receive 30 free minutes of talk time and 100 free SMS.

  • 31 Million Business IP Phones Will Ship in 2012


    The IP phone market is actually a tale of two drastically different markets- business and consumer.

    The former is thriving and the latter is diverging in a drastically different direction, according to In-Stat.

    By 2012, the researchers estimate that 31 million voice-centric business IP phones will ship.

    However, In-Stat believes the consumer side of the market is radically different.

    Among voice-centric IP phones, businesses will outpace consumers more than 10 to 1.

    According to its report, the nascent consumer market for voice-centric IP phones is being subjugated by the introduction of IP media phones.

    These include the Verizon Hub and AT&T HomeManager that support both IP communications, as well as delivery of Internet information and multimedia content.

    Norm Bogen, In-Stat analyst, said IP-based communication is replacing TDM networks at a steady pace in the workplace – but adoption is slow among consumers.

    He said that even where VoIP is being used in the home, many consumers don’t realize it because IP-based cable voice services are marketed as traditional PSTN voice offerings, supported by traditional analog telephones.

    "Within the business market, corded IP phones remain the standard, and will continue to dominate the enterprise IP phone market through 2012," he said.

    "However, WLAN and IP DECT phones continue to grow, especially within some specific vertical and geographical markets."

    Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

    • Cisco, Avaya, and Nortel are leading the market for enterprise IP phones.
    • Wi-Fi integration in cellular phones is growing rapidly; however, the majority of Wi-Fi/cellular phones are not designed for VoIP.
    • Uniden holds top market share for consumer IP corded phones

  • iriver's WAVE-HOME Launches in Korea


    iriver’s WAVE-HOME is now available to KT Telecom subscribers in Korea.

    The kits is being sold for 297,000 Korean Won (approx USD $210) and features a WiFi VoIP handset in addition to a 7-inch color display with 1.3 megapixel camera.

    Unveiled at last month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the WAVE-HOME is being billed as the ultimate all-in-one solution – providing advanced multimedia, web and phone capabilities.

    It also has an "intelligent Widget" that provides instant weather, stock and traffic updates, as well as web and multimedia services that users can enjoy without a computer since the device is connected to broadband internet.

  • US Operators Planning Real-Time Mobile Video Services


    Global IP Solutions (GIPS) has released a survey showing that US mobile operators and equipment vendors are supportive in the drive toward real-time video.

    The provider of IP multimedia processing solutions found that over 50 per cent of US wireless operators interviewed plan to launch, or increase access to, real-time video services over the next 2 years.

    GIPS believes mobile video will make the shift to the mainstream in the US market over the next few years.

    The study, carried out for GIPS by Ovum, questioned most of the top US mobile operators, smaller/regional wireless carriers and mobile application developers.

    It also found that in order to compete with larger players, smaller operators are offering more Internet access and are pursuing flexible IP communication applications from 3rd parties.

    Almost half of operators surveyed expressed enthusiasm for delivering "open platforms" for 3rd party software developers.

    Mark Radoff, of Ovum, said the study’s findings showed that real-time video is coming to the forefront for mobile operators.

    "Both the small and large operators are keen to launch these services and determine ways to productize real-time video, to differentiate their services and potentially increase ARPU," he said.

    While only AT&T Wireless has so far launched a video conferencing service, most carriers indicate the service is coming.

    The study found that operators launching video conferencing applications would likely provide opportunity for software vendors.

    While operators have growing confidence in their networks, respondents indicated that optimization is still an issue, as well as usable applications and integration with social networks.

    GIPS pointed out that more than half of the respondents showed enthusiasm for open platforms, whereby software vendors can launch real-time video applications on an operator-approved handset.

    Emerick Woods, CEO of GIPS, said most US mobile operators are running what is classified as a 3G network or 3.5G or equivalent network, which allows them to ensure high quality VOIP and video-based services.

    "Now, with 4G and sophisticated WiMax networks beginning to emerge, there are fewer barriers to offering quality, real-time video and VoIP on mobile phones and networks," he said.

    Woods said the study confirms GIPS’ belief in the accelerating movement toward mobile video adoption and validates the activities from mobile operators and device manufacturers in making it a reality in the next few years.

    We’d be interested in hearing your view on this. Will real-time video go mainstream in the next couple of years?

  • Motorola Unveils First WiMAX Outdoor CPE With Integrated VoIP


    Motorola has introduced the wi4 WiMAX CPEo 450 – the first WiMAX outdoor CPE with integrated VoIP.

    Built from the ground up, the CPEo 450 has been designed to minimize the time, effort and cost of bringing broadband and voice services to new subscriber locations.

    By integrating VoIP functionality directly into the unit, Motorola said the need for multiple boxes is eliminated.

    Other features include integrated pole mounting brackets for convenience in installation, visual signal quality indicators for reliable device orientation, and a new high-performance antenna and radio design for interference mitigation and increased service coverage.

    Charles Riggle, senior director of strategy and business development, WiMAX devices, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility, said the CPEo 450 offered best-in-class performance with both voice and data capabilities in a compact outdoor form factor that is easy to install and reduces support costs.

    "Motorola’s CPEo 450 demonstrates once again that a superior performing CPE provides greater wireless coverage, increased throughput and network capacity, and higher service availability," he said.

    "These attributes translate into lower capex and operating cost for carriers, a faster ROI, lower churn and greater customer satisfaction."

    The CPEo 450 consists of an outdoor subscriber unit with integrated antennas and an indoor power adaptor incorporating an RJ45 Ethernet port and two RJ11 voice ports.

    All network configuration parameters come pre-loaded. When turned on, the network will automatically detect the CPEo 450 and perform all necessary authentication processes, allowing subscribers to immediately begin using voice and data services.

    The wi4 WiMAX CPEo 450 will be commercially available for shipments beginning in Q2 2009 for the 3.5 GHz band with support for 5, 7, and 10 MHz channel bandwidths.

  • StarWind Software Announces Appoints New CEO and Opens US Headquarters


    StarWind Software has appointed Zorian Rotenberg as chief executive officer and announced the opening of its US headquarters.

    The storage software provider’s move to its new HQ near Boston, Massachusetts, comes shortly after the announcement of its spin-off from Rocket Division Inc and the investment, led by ABRT Venture Fund, meant to accelerate sales and assist in marketing efforts.

    StarWind provides small and midsize company storage solutions and is expanding its operations, marketing and product offerings.

    Its flagship product, StarWind Server is an iSCSI Target software that installs on any industry-standard Windows Server and converts it into a reliable, powerful and affordable IP SAN.

    Rotenberg will focus on continuing to build StarWind’s storage software market and will be responsible for global operations including sales, marketing, strategic alliances, and customer programs.

    He has a strong background in high-tech as well as financial markets, and most recently served as the vice president of corporate and business development at Acronis Inc.

    He worked directly for the CEO of Acronis during a period when the company grew rapidly over a period of a few years from about USD $20 million to over USD $100 million worldwide.

    Previously, Rotenberg worked at Merrill Lynch & Co. in the Investment Banking Division focusing on mergers & acquisitions and financing transactions, at NeoCarta Ventures focusing on investing in technology companies and at IBM in the Software Sales Division.

    A graduate of Lehigh University, he has a degree in finance and with minors in applied mathematics and computer science. He took an MBA at Harvard Business School.

    Rotenberg said he was looking forward to building and growing Starwind’s business globally.

    "This is a great company with excellent technology and a very talented, accomplished team," he said.

    "We have an extraordinary opportunity to develop new solutions for our customers and be a leader in the rapidly growing storage software market."

  • Virtualisation Provides Effective Disaster Recovery Solution


    SecurStore has warned that companies need to ensure a reliable IT disaster recovery plan is in place when times are tough.

    The online, automated and managed data backup and recovery specialists said that the current economic difficulties meant that customer service is going to be the all important differentiator throughout 2009.

    It said the list of what can go wrong in the working environment is extensive, so it was essential to ensure that services ccould still be provided to clients in the event of power failures, natural disasters or sabotage is paramount.

    Alexander Eiriksson, COO of SecurStore, said many companies were living dangerously, operating without a reliable backup and recovery plan, which he described as a major risk.

    He said companies that are using 30-year old tape backup technologies are just as insecure since tapes notoriously suffer from reliability issues.

    Virtualisation technology is increasingly being seen as a cost-effective and immediate disaster recovery plan.

    Using Virtualisation, companies need fewer servers leading to a reduction in hardware maintenance and reduced IT employee working time.

    It also simplifies IT management, minimises space and saves power, all leading to reduced costs.

    "Gartner recently published a report that ranked Virtualisation as third in a list of 10 technologies that CIOs will focus on to realise value from existing assets," said Eiriksson.

    He said specialists such as SecurStore offered simple, cost effective agent-less, online backup and recovery solution that enabled organisations to maximise their virtualisation strategy while achieving superior data protection and recovery management without performance degradation.

  • Intel To Invest $ 7 Billion in US Manufacturing


    Intel is bucking current trends and investing USD $7 billion in upgrading three of its US factories over the next two years.

    The computer chipmaker said the investment is its largest on new manufacturing and represents 7,000 high-wage jobs.

    Based in Santa Clara, California, Intel said its upgrade plans were for existing facilities in Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon to manufacture its 32-nanometer products.

    Paul Otellini, president and CEO of Intel, said the investment decision was to ensure Intel and the US remained at the forefront of innovation.

    He said the manufacturing facilities would produce the most advanced computing technology in the world.

    Intel president and CEO Paul Otellini

    "The capabilities of our 32nm factories are truly extraordinary, and the chips they produce will become the basic building blocks of the digital world, generating economic returns far beyond our industry," he said.

    While more than a third of Intel’s sales are from outside the US, the company does 75 per cent of its semiconductor manufacturing and research-and-development spending in the US.

    Chips makers such as Intel and Advanced Micro Devices have experienced a decline in demand as global computers sales wither in the face of the economic crisis.

    Last month, Intel announced the closure of manufacturing sites in California and Oregon, and test facilities in Malaysia and the Philippines, resulting in 5,000 to 6,000 job losses.