i3 micro technology unveiled its Mood personal video recorder (PVR) this week at TelcoTV in Orlando, and already has signed deals with two companies that will integrate with or use the Mood family of set-top boxes to launch their own IPTV operations.
i3, provider of IPTV and VoIP products, says its Mood PVR is compatible with existing and future set-top boxes, and will help service providers compete with cable and satellite TV operators. The device allows content to be stored on in-home network storage or on a network-connected PC. It uses the subscriber’s in-home network for distributing recorded programs; the PVR also supports encryption options to prevent unauthorized access to, or use of, stored content.
i3 is making available a complete set of development tools to its middleware partners to integrate easily the Mood PVR solution with their own PVR applications. The combination enables service providers to offer PVR functionality in a variety of ways and eliminates the need to purchase more expensive set-top boxes.
Latens Systems plans to integrate i3’s Mood set-top boxes with its content and revenue protection products. Latens Systems executives say this gives IPTV operators a proven system for combining content protection against piracy attacks.
Meanwhile, Consolidated Communications Inc. intends to use Mood set-top boxes and video gateways to launch its IPTV deployment in Illinois early next year. Consolidated is an independent service provider that serves Illinois and Texas.
