Alpha Networks Unveils New IP-STB with Enhanced Value-Added Service Offerings

Alpha Networks, a networking original design manufacturer/original equipment manufacturing (ODM/OEM) company, announced that it will showcase its new generation IP-STB ‘AST-1105’ at the upcoming 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES (News - Alert)) in Las Vegas.

 

In general, Internet Protocol set top boxes (IP STBs) incorporate either standard definition (SD) or high-definition (HD) MPEG decoders and may feature advanced video coding techniques. It also features video, audio as well as data services, which are linked together via a variety of digital interfaces such as modem, ADSL, Ethernet and IP protocols.

 

With increased penetration of broadband in IPTV (News - Alert), the expectations of telcos, MSOs and carriers have also increased to have a total solution STB that will help them to deliver multiple entertainment services and high-definition (HD) content to consumers.

 

Alpha Networks said that its IP-STB AST-1105 is tailor-made to meet consumers’ needs. It specially features a software customizable platform that has the capability to meet the requirements of value added resellers (VARs) and telcos.

 

The AST-1105 IP STB is pre-integrated with a selection of middleware, CA (News - Alert) and DRM (digital rights management) systems as well as VOD (video on-demand) servers, and embedded browsers. This was achieved by leveraging the partnership made with IPTV technology providers. All these features offer great flexibility for custom designs, said the company.

 

Alpha Networks also said that its new generation AST-1105 IP STB is built with in-house DLNA 1.5 software stack and it is extendable to support hybrid DVB-T/S/C STB as well.

 

According to Alpha Networks, the AST-1105 makes use of a powerful dual-core system-on-chip (SoC) hardware platform. It supports high performance 64-bit DDRII memory also. It as well features video/audio decoding capability, including HD/SD H.264/AVC, HD/SD AVS (News - Alert), VC-1, HD/SD MPEG-2, DivX3/4/5/6, AAC, Dolby, MP3, WMA, and more.

 

The AST-1105 connects to HDTV via HDMI 1.3 for up to 1080 pixel resolution. It also has support for Mosaic Mode. It is also equipped with dual SATA-2 ports, dual USB connectors, an eSATA connector, and an SD card reader for connectivity interfaces.

 

Tim Kang, the CTO of Alpha Networks, said, “Interactive services and high definition multimedia entertainment that consumers have long desired boost the expansion of the video-on-demand and IPTV markets. Alpha Networks has decades of experience in networking technology, and thereby is well-positioned to accelerate growth by delivering cost-optimal solutions with customizable software design and rich multimedia formats support that can enable telcos to broaden their value-added service offerings.”