--Partners with Paramount for Interactive TV Games
--Partnership with Ekioh Enables Support for SVG Technology
--Launches "Web 2.0" Applications at IBC
--Launches ITV Games on Sharp AQUOS Net TV Sets
Accedo Broadband, an aggregator and distributor of interactive TV
applications and content for IPTV and broadband-connected consumer
electronics devices (note: the company, which was founded by telecom
and media entrepreneurs, Michael Lantz and Fredrik Andersson, offers
a range of applications, including game, quiz, puzzle, video-art,
karaoke, weather, communications and user-generated content apps; it
has deals in place to provide games packages to a line-up of customers
that includes BT, Inuk, and PCCW), has generated a fair amount of
news over the past few weeks:
- The company has teamed with Paramount Digital Entertainment to
develop interactive TV games based on the Paramount Pictures
properties, "Top Gun" and "Saturday Night Fever." According to the
companies, the games will be deployed on Accedo's Funspot game
channels on IPTV platforms in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, China,
India and Malaysia, and the deployments will represent the first time
that Hollywood-branded games have been available to IPTV customers
in Asia. "We are excited about developing our relationship with
Paramount Digital Entertainment," Mark Adams, Accedo's VP of
business development for Asia, said in a prepared statement. "They
clearly see the huge potential of telco-TV games and newer platforms.
We have the ability to deliver innovative game concepts to demanding
subscribers in Asia, while they have a library of classic movie brands
with timeless appeal across all demographic groups."
- The company says that, as a result of a new partnership with Ekioh, a
UK-based developer of embedded UI engines, the Accedo Application
Portfolio will now support the new Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
technology. According to Accedo, SVG is widely seen as the "natural
successor" to current browser technologies, and makes it possible to
overcome the challenge of creating HD user services for IPTV, where it
says guaranteeing a good user experience, in terms of performance and
responsiveness, is often a problem. "Ekioh has managed to build a
high-performance SVG engine that renders visually stunning and
responsive UI's and graphics at impressive speeds," Accedo CEO,
Michael Lantz, said in a prepared statement. "This new engine is
outperforming current browser-based technology by far." Added Ekioh
CEO, Piers Wombwell: "Partnering with Accedo Broadband will give
our customers access to the leading interactive application portfolio for
IPTV. We are happy as this will reduce the time to market for them to
deploy attractive SVG content and applications." Accedo showcased a
number of new applications that use SVG technology in its booth at the
IBC show in Amsterdam earlier this month.
- The company also used the IBC show to announce that it is now
offering a range of applications with "Web 2.0" functionality ("Web
2.0" being a catch-all phrase for services that feature user-interaction,
social networking and user-generated content) as part of its Accedo
Application Portfolio offering. "The TV medium is traditionally a
broadcast medium with all users getting the same content," Accedo's
Lantz said in a prepared statement. "With IPTV technology, each end-
user can interact directly and personally with channels or services,
similar to the standard Web. The future of IPTV is about bringing new
services and applications to the TV viewer. Accedo is all about the new
TV experience, and by offering these new applications to the market,
we take another step towards the future living room." Accedo says that
it is now offering a framework for IPTV applications that can connect
to both in-house-operated and third-party Web 2.0 services, thus
bringing a range of Internet content and functionality to the TV. It says
that Web 2.0 functionality will be available to all its customers, starting
in the fourth quarter.
- The company has launched its Funspot casual games service on Sharp
AQUOS Net-equipped television sets in the US. The games, which
feature HD graphics and are designed to be operated with a remote
control, include arcade, puzzle, board, strategy, card and quiz games.
"Funspot from Accedo is a very powerful proposition for interactive
casual games in front of the TV," Accedo's Lantz said in a prepared
statement. "We will continue to expand and develop the service
offering from the initial launch based on user demand and behavior.
The flexibility and convenience of the user experience delivered by the
AQUOS Net platform are ideal for a seamless integration with
Accedo's Funspot gaming solution. The close integration of widget
functionality and possibilities for both full-screen and half-screen
execution show Sharp's deep understanding for interactivity in the
future living room." AQUOS Net, which launched in North America
last January, is a service that offers custom Web-based content and
real-time customer support on Sharp AQUOS SE94U television sets. It
is accessed via the sets' Ethernet jack and allows display of
Internet-sourced content in full-screen and split-screen modes.
- The company has named Lars Bentsson, former CEO of IPTV set-top
box manufacturer, Kreatel, and managing director of Motorola's IPTV
Open Systems unit, to its board of directors. Bengtsson--who
presumably has significant expertise in the IPTV space--will also serve
as a senior advisor to Accedo's management. "Companies like Accedo
Broadband are key for innovation and service development in the
emerging IPTV industry," Bengtsson said in a prepared statement.
"Accedo's rapid growth into a global provider of IPTV content and
services is impressive and I'm excited about joining the board to
strengthen the company's growth in the coming years."
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