nCUBE and Microsoft Partner to Revolutionize Broadband Video-on-Demand

Strategic Insights -

nCUBE, a leading vendor of broadband video-on-demand systems, has announced a relationship with Microsoft to port nCUBE's video-on-demand client application to the Microsoft TV platform. This partnership will enable broadband operators to combine nCUBE's highly scalable video servers with Microsoft's popular client platform, providing a wide range of applications such as movies-on-demand, advertising on-demand, and video-enhanced e-commerce. The MediaCUBE 4, nCUBE's video server, can scale from 80 simultaneous 3 Mb/s streams to 44,000 simultaneous streams, delivering MPEG-2, MPEG-1, and mid bit-rate video.

Key Takeaways:

  • nCUBE has partnered with Microsoft to port its video-on-demand client application to the Microsoft TV platform, enabling broadband operators to combine nCUBE's scalable video servers with Microsoft's popular client platform.
  • The partnership will provide a wide range of applications, including movies-on-demand, advertising on-demand, and video-enhanced e-commerce, on the Microsoft TV platform.
  • nCUBE's MediaCUBE 4 can scale from 80 simultaneous 3 Mb/s streams to 44,000 simultaneous streams, delivering different types of video content.
  • The integration of nCUBE's VOD Client application with the RTSP and DSM-CC standards provides broadband operators with a choice in how to integrate VOD into their interactive service offerings.
  • nCUBE has already deployed several VOD solutions utilizing Windows 98-based client platforms, and has shipped 100 VOD systems delivering more than 17,000 VOD Streams.
  • To date, nCUBE has the largest installed base in the world of broadband VOD systems, with recent wins including Shaw Communications, Bertelsmann Broadband Group, and Telewest Communications.
  • nCUBE has a long history of expertise in broadband video solutions, including video-on-demand, digital advertising insertion and pay-per-view/NVOD, with over 24,000 channels of MPEG systems shipped worldwide.

Statistics:

  • nCUBE has shipped 100 VOD systems delivering more than 17,000 VOD Streams.
  • nCUBE's MediaCUBE 4 can scale from 80 simultaneous 3 Mb/s streams to 44,000 simultaneous streams.
  • nCUBE has shipped more than 24,000 channels of MPEG systems to customers worldwide.

Sources:

  • nCUBE press release dated Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/
  • Microsoft TV Platform group
  • nCUBE President Michael J. Pohl