C-Cube Delivers Set-Top Silicon for U.S. Cable; Philips Selects C-Cube for Two-Way Cable Deployment in its First Generation of Set-Top Boxes.MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 1999--Digital video pioneer C-Cube Microsystems (Nasdaq: CUBE) today announced that its technology has been selected to enable two way cable deployment of the first open-architecture two-way digital set-top boxes The cable TV box that sits on "top" of the TV "set," although it is often located several feet away in an equipment rack. The set-top box descrambles the premium channels and provides a tuner for the higher cable numbers that very old TVs did not support. in the U.S. The set-top boxes, which deliver digital video to standard television sets, will be built by Philips (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : PHG) as part of a groundbreaking cable installation by MediaOne(R), third largest cable operator in the U.S. Philips selected C-Cube's AViA@TV digital video system-on-silicon to enable two way communication via cable, so customers can access both advanced interactive services, entertainment and information on the MediaOne network. "Two-way interactivity over HFC 1. (networking) HFC - Hybrid Fiber Coax. 2. (hardware) HFC - hydrofluorocarbon. (Hybrid Fiber/Coax) networks is critical for the MediaOne deployment," said Jos Swillens, General Manager of Philips Digital Receivers. "With C-Cube's technology inside the box, we are able to meet the aggressive schedule and feature requirements of this landmark initiative. We are delighted that MediaOne has chosen Philips and our group partner, to deliver the first open system to the U.S. cable market. Philips is a leading consumer electronics company with a strong brand and long-term commitment to open digital technology." The set-top boxes will be linked to cable head-end equipment built by DiviCom Corporation, a C-Cube subsidiary. DiviCom has been selected to supply its open solution digital encoding See encode. and distribution system as well as its Intersect In a relational database, to match two files and produce a third file with records that are common in both. For example, intersecting an American file and a programmer file would yield American programmers. set-top box controllers to MediaOne. "Selecting an OpenCable platform for our Digital NexTV service required us to choose vendors that could provide us with the right components for our system and meet our tight deadlines," said Joe Wetzel, Vice President of Engineering for MediaOne. "We are relying on the combination of Philips and C-Cube to meet our aggressive requirements." C-Cube, along with other open architecture partners, has dedicated engineering resources for development and documentation of the industry's changing OpenCable(TM) specification. As a result of the OpenCable initiative, cable operators are no longer dependent upon a proprietary solution or a single supplier for advanced system components such as consumer set top boxes. By utilizing interoperability and open standards-based systems, component providers can deliver a wider range of new choices to cable operators who are planning to migrate to open standards Specifications for hardware and software that are developed by a standards organization or a consortium involved in supporting a standard. Available to the public for developing compliant products, open standards imply "open systems;" that an existing component in a system can be replaced based digital cable networks. "With the MediaOne announcement, the ground rules in the U.S. cable market have changed," said David Baillie, vice president and general manager of C-Cube's Consumer Network Products Business Unit. "Cable providers are actively looking to open standards-based solutions, which C-Cube is pleased to be able to provide them." About AViA@TV Set-Top Solutions Digital set-top manufacturers, such as Philips, are leveraging the unique capabilities of the C-Cube AViA@TV platform to deliver set-top devices that support new network-intensive services through two-way cable. The two-way HFC networking (Hybrid Fiber-Coax network) A communications network (typically a cable TV network) that uses a combination of optical fibers and coaxial cable. The fiber provides the high-speed backbone, and the coax is used to connect end users to the backbone. capability, of the AViA@TV system-on-silicon make it the preferred solution for set-tops supporting Web surfing Refers to jumping from page to page on the Web. Just as in "TV channel surfing," where one clicks the remote to go from channel to channel, the hyperlink on Web pages makes it easy to jump from one page to another. , and interactive electronic program guides. By enabling set-top manufacturers to offer these advanced functions, C-Cube is bringing a new level of entertainment value to consumers. "The announcement of MediaOne's digital cable system - with its robust customer features and flexible open systems architecture - is a milestone for the U.S. cable industry," said Baille. "By adopting the industry's newest OpenCable standards, MediaOne is paving the way for US cable service providers to take full advantage of the competition and innovation that is the hallmark of the digital video industry. As a result, cable providers will be able to choose among the broadest range of leading-edge solutions at the lowest possible costs." About Philips Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of US$33.9 billion in 1998. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, color picture tubes for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. Its 233,700 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, medical systems, business electronics, and IT services (Origin). Philips is quoted on the NYSE, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. About MediaOne MediaOne, the nation's leading Broadband services company, provides entertainment, information, and communications services to about five million customers. MediaOne Group MediaOne Group, Inc. was a media/cable TV company that was formed in 1995 as U S WEST Media Group. It was created to eliminate competition between U S WEST's telephone service and cable TV businesses. (NYSE: UMG UMG Universal Music Group UMG Universidad Mariano Gálvez de Guatemala (Mariano Galvez University of Guatemala) UMG Upgraded Metallurgical Grade (silicon) UMG Unlicensed Medical Graduate ) is one of the world's largest broadband communications companies, bringing the power of broadband and the Internet to subscribers in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Europe and Asia. The company also has interests in some of the fastest-growing wireless communications wireless communications System using radio-frequency, infrared, microwave, or other types of electromagnetic or acoustic waves in place of wires, cables, or fibre optics to transmit signals or data. businesses outside the U.S. For 1998, the businesses that comprise MediaOne Group produced $7.1 billion in proportionate revenue. About C-Cube Microsystems C-Cube Microsystems Inc. is the industry leader in the development and delivery of highly integrated digital video silicon and systems solutions. The C-Cube Semiconductor Division delivers highly integrated digital video silicon and systems solutions for the communications and consumer electronics markets, including digital set-top boxes, VCD See Video CD. VCD - Video Compact Disc , and DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. . DiviCom, a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of C-Cube, is a leading provider of open solutions for digital television. DiviCom products include audio/video encoding, data broadcast solutions, network management systems, consulting and integration services. C-Cube is headquartered in Milpitas with offices in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , Europe, and Asia. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol CUBE. C-Cube can be reached at 408/490-8000 or on the World Wide Web at http://www.c-cube.com. DiviCom is based in Milpitas and can be reached at 408/944-6700 or on the World Wide Web at http://www.divi.com. Note to Editors: C-Cube and the C-Cube logo are registered trademarks of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective companies. |
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