SUN announces digitial television partners programme

 Amsterdam 13 Sep 99 At the IBC in Amsterdam, Sun launched the Java TV Solutions Partner Program in an effort to accelerate the development of standards based interactive television solutions for consumers. Sun is launching this programme to bring together a community of companies who are committed to providing open client or server solutions for cable operators, satellite operators, and broadcasters.

Current Java TV Solutions Partner Program members include industry leaders, Liberate Technologies and OpenTV.

Java TV Solutions Partners will be able to get products and services to market sooner with technical, marketing, and sales support from Sun. Member companies will have early access to Java TV technology and will receive dedicated technical support and assistance from Sun. In addition, they will have an opportunity to participate in Sun's marketing and sales efforts to provide customers with open solutions.

"With over one million active developers of Java applications today, it's clear that a strong development community exists to bring Java technology to alternative platforms, such as television set-top boxes. The inclusion of Java technology within the Liberate platform marks a natural progression in our support for open standard-setting technologies for enhanced television," said Mitchell Kertzman, president and CEO of Liberate Technologies. "Sun's Java TV technology will add a rich new layer of functionality to the Liberate software platform, allowing network operators to deploy an additional class of enhanced television applications."

Interactive television applications written in the Java programming language offer security, extensibility, and portability across a diverse array of television receivers, saving content developers time and money getting their interactive applications to market. In addition, the Java platform and Java TV API allow for a high degree of control and flexibility over the "look and feel" of applications. Java technology enables developers to deliver highly dynamic and compelling interactive television experiences to their audiences.

"Sun has been consistent in their support of OpenTV's strategy of developing open software solutions for digital receivers based on the TV-centric model," said Jan Steenkamp, CEO of OpenTV. "Sun's Java technology and experience in building solutions for important network operators will significantly enhance our offering. This agreement reinforces our commitment to developing Java technology based solutions for DVB MHP, ATSC and OpenCable."

 

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