Java is being credited by broadband video solutions company Myrio, for giving users a greater number of options to chose from, when adding third-party applications to their broadband service. It also enables broadband service providers to offer customers a multiplicity of features to enhance, secure, and customize their viewing experience.

The first company to use Myrio IP Video Platform 3.5 is Belgacom, the leading telecommunications firm in Belgium. The company is using integrated solution to power its Interactive Digital Television (iDTV) service. Myrio noted that a growing worldwide client base is using IP video, which requires companies to provision a host of new services. The Java-based Myrio video platform is enabling this.

"The industry is witnessing global interest in IP video deployment," said Chris Coles, Myrio's CEO. "It is critical for us to offer broadband service providers with a proven IP video platform that addresses subscriber convenience and control needs such as PVR, video on demand (VOD), Digital Television, Web browsing, Content Security, and Multiple Language Support. With Version 3.5 of Myrio's IP Video Platform, service providers now have the key features and necessary system flexibility to remain competitive while further reducing the cost of delivering video. We continue to enhance our solutions to provide our customers with more choice and the end user a more personalized experience."

Version 3.5 improves upon two Myrio products, Myrio TotalManage and Myrio Interactive. Myrio TotalManage is the most commercially deployed IP video back-office application in the world. The application lets broadband service providers manage content, and supports services related to billing, and other different areas. Myrio Interactive, meanwhile, is a software application used by broadband subscribers that enables a host of choices, and improvements, to be selected.

"Version 3.5 of the Myrio IP Video Platform continues to take full advantage of Java technology to offer broadband service providers with the most robust IP video platform and the flexibility of vendor choice," said Ryan Petty, Myrio's vice president of product management.

The company's platform ultimately provides users with a number of options designed to make their viewing better. For example, its Active Format Descriptor enables the autodetection of wide-screen signaling, and adjusts accordingly. Extra PIN's can be added for controls which subscribers may want to have exclusive control over, such as the ability to restrict certain channels. Broadband service providers also benefit significantly, gaining multiplatform support, and the ability to localize and differentiate its services.

"Building on an open technology like Java," Petty said, "enables a rich ecosystem of third-party ISVs to improve the Myrio platform--something you don't see with closed, single-vendor solutions. In addition, the breadth of industry support for the Myrio platform provides operators the ability to choose between multiple vendors for set-top boxes, content security, VOD servers, head-end encoders, and access platforms without being restricted to a single vendor is the crux of the Myrio value proposition. This level of choice is not possible with any other solution on the market today. Version 3.5 is available to more than 50 of our customers who, combined, provide services to over 35 million subscribers."