Opera Devices SDK 9.7 Technology Integrated into Thomson Set-Top Boxes, Middleware

Browser specialist, Opera Software, said Tuesday that its Opera Devices SDK 9.7 Web technology will be integrated into Thomson set-top boxes, as well as into Thomson's THOMSuite set-top box middleware and its SmartVision service platform software. According to the company, the technology will serve as a rendering component for Thomson's next-generation platforms, enabling new Web-based services to be developed for multiple devices. Opera will be pre-integrated into Thomson set-top boxes for IPTV and hybrid environments and will be used as one of the rendering engines for Thomson's middleware, Opera says.

Opera claims that its cross-platform technology can be easily ported to a wide range of Thomson products. "We are excited to be working with an industry leader such as Thomson," Opera CEO, Jon von Tetzchner, said in a prepared statement. "Through this collaboration, we foresee Opera technology enabling new and added-value content and services on Thomson products, helping them to offer more competitive advantages in the IPTV market. Our focus on W3C standards and our compliance with industry IPTV standards are crucial to making Opera a versatile, cross-platform tool. As such, we continue to work hard at being innovative leaders who deliver superior technology to the IPTV industry."