An Irish digital TV company has developed its own MPEG4-high definition (HD) set-top box for internet protocol television (IPTV), it emerged today.
Cork-based DigiSoft will launch the new set-top box, which will retail at less than €75, at the IPTV World Forum in London next week as well as a hosted service delivery platform called DigiHost.
The company’s Java-based set-top box will include a customisable interactive programme guide, video-on-demand capabilities and a personal networked video recorder.
DigiSoft will be aiming to target the set-top box at telecom firms and internet service providers (ISPs) keen to make their mark on the emerging digital media space.
The company will be offering telecoms firms and ISPs applications that manage the logistics of offering digital television services such as video servers, encoders, digital rights management (DRM) systems and conditional access systems.
The company’s technology offering will also include an interactive advertising technology with a push-to-call feature that means TV viewers can instantly respond to a TV ad.
Cork-based Digisoft has been achieving global renown in the interactive TV space, scoring key deals with the Italian government and forging alliances with major tech players like Ericsson.
In 2005 the company received a €2.5m funding injection from Riverdeep founder and serial technology investor Pat McDonagh.
By John Kennedy
