Intel has signed up to support the OpenCable platform in its system-on-a-chip (SoC) products aimed at the consumer electronic (CE) market. The move follows Intel signing a platform agreement with CableLabs, a technology consortium of cable operators.
The OpenCable system enables various digital devices - such as digital televisions, set-top boxes and digital recorders - to run third-party applications delivered over cable connections.
"The collaboration between the major cable TV operators and Intel exemplifies and fuels the ongoing transition to digitally-delivered entertainment whether through a computer, high-definition TV, smart set-top box or other networked CE device," said the general manager of Intel's Digital Home Group, Eric Kim. "We expect this move and our innovative SoC products to further accelerate the development of new applications and services for myriad cable operators, CE manufacturers, developers and retailers, and to further bolster our own CE product plans based on Intel Architecture."
For its part, CableLabs emphasised the cable industry's interest in deploying interactive services through retail and leased digital devices: "Having Intel support the technology really brings the OpenCable Platform to a new level of maturity," said the CEO of CableLabs, Dr. Richard R. Green, "and will further enable innovation from consumer electronics manufacturers, advertisers, content providers and cable operators for the benefit of our mutual customers."
At its recent Spring IDF in Beijing, Intel said it would be delivering such Intel Architecture (IA) SoC products for a new generation of consumer electronics devices. According to Intel, the SoCs will help manufacturers "accelerate product delivery and deliver more cost-effective designs that provide strong processing performance and flexibility".
Intel's first CE-optimised IA-based SoC is scheduled for 2008, pairing an IA processor with A/V processing and graphics support.
CableLabs is a non-profit R&D consortium that concentrates on new cable telecommunications technologies. Its membership is formed from cable operators around the world.