Softel, TSS Partner to Offer End-to-End Interactive TV Application Testing Environment

Softel, a UK-based company that claims to have over 25 years of experience in providing ancillary data solutions--including solutions for interactive TV, opt cuing/ad insertion, subtitling and captioning--to leading broadcasters and service providers across the world (note: for an in-depth overview of Softel and its work in the interactive TV space, see the interview with its CEO, Sam Pemberton, that was published on itvt.com, July 31st), on Monday announced a joint initiative with Telecommunications Support Services (TSS) to offer comprehensive testing services for developers of interactive TV applications. The companies say that the initiative is based on the integration of Softel's MediaSphere interactive TV playout platform with the TSS test suite.

According to the companies, their collaboration sees TSS offering a MediaSphere-integrated test environment as a rental service. The companies say that the test environment provides a fully featured, broadcast-ready lab rig with headend equipment and conditional access systems from multiple vendors, as well as a range of set-top boxes. Application designers can use the service for "rigorous verification" of EBIF and OCAP/tru2way applications, the companies claim, avoiding the need to invest in equipment of their own, while ensuring maximum robustness and compatibility in the test environment's accurate simulation of real-world conditions. According to the companies, they will offer "full support and guidance" as part of the service.

Softel bills MediaSphere as enabling parallel playout of multiple middleware platforms from a single unit and as providing compatibility with major US and international standards--thus, in the joint initiative with TSS, enabling developers to test applications for deployment anywhere in the world, while optimizing their test cycles by playing out concurrently over several different formats. "TSS is a recognized leading provider of testing and certification, and we are proud that MediaSphere has been selected to enable their clients to take the next step with their interactive television offerings," Ed Humphrey, president of Softel's Softel-USA arm, said in a prepared statement. "MediaSphere is well established as the premier enabling platform for value-added interactivity across the spectrum of global digital television delivery standards." Added TSS's director of business development and program management, Jeff Cohen: "We pride ourselves on delivering comprehensive test and certification services and expertise to our clients across a diverse range of technologies. Interactive television offers content producers and broadcasters a great opportunity to differentiate themselves from the competition, encouraging loyalty and adding value. MediaSphere enables us to round out our offering with its flexible, scalable platform and seamless integration."