Kasenna says LivingRoom 2.0 IPTV middleware results in better TV

June 6th, 2006 – Kasenna has released LivingRoom 2.0 – a new IPTV middleware suite that updates the company's PortalTV with what is claimed to be "an unrivalled viewer experience along with features that make IPTV easier than ever to deploy and manage".

According to Kasenna, "LivingRoom 2.0 provides a highly advanced and efficient IPTV delivery and management solution in a deployment-ready package and is the core component of our PortalTV, offering applications, video streaming and network recording, element and content management, and premium content."

LivingRoom 2.0 includes software for the consumer set-top box (the LivingRoom 2.0 Client) and for the backend service creation, management and delivery (the LivingRoom 2.0 Application Server).

The new middleware suite features a newly designed user interface that enables service providers "to offer a superior television experience with new, 'sticky' TV services such as Start-Over TV [ie allowing users to jump to the beginning of a program in progress without prior recording], network-based PVR and an elegant programme guide."

The LivingRoom 2.0 set-top box client can be used out-of-the-box on leading MPEG-4 receivers. In addition, it can be easily customised by the service provider for a unique look-and-feel. The LivingRoom STB client is built on web-services, standards-based technologies such as DHTML and CSS. LivingRoom 2.0 will be available with a Macromedia Flash-based client as well.

Kasenna says LivingRoom 2.0 Application Server slashes deployment, operations and management costs while offering the latest IPTV service features. These include: integration into EPG for Start-Over TV; automated content ingest and management to minimise costs for moving VOD content into the system; automatic integration with leading content encryption systems; easy channel packaging for regional channel maps; extensive transaction tracking for understanding customer usage; and a plug-in adapter framework for seamless billing system integration.

The Kasenna PortalTV solution combines the company’s streaming server, middleware, management, client, and content offerings into what the vendor claims is the industry’s only end-to-end, pre-integrated IPTV solution.

“As the only company that offers IPTV infrastructure as well as content, we have a unique perspective on what makes carrier-based video a compelling proposition for service providers as well as consumers,” says Kumar Shah, CEO of Kasenna. “LivingRoom 2.0 demonstrates our vision by allowing telcos to deliver truly exciting IPTV services quickly and easily, and with a rapid return on investment.”