IPTV providers working towards global standard
updated 05:20 pm EDT, Mon March 19, 2007
Global IPTV standard comin
Companies from around the world have announced the Open IPTV Forum, geared to develop a global IPTV standard, says Reuters. Major founders include the likes of Ericsson, Philips, Samsung, Siemens, Sony and France Telecom. One of the major problems of IPTV has been the divisive range of possibilities, from the number of codecs available, to the level of DRM (if any) that might prevent rampant piracy. If the Forum succeeds as planned, an initial standard could be ready by the end of the year. Notably absent from the group however are Microsoft and Alcatel-Lucent, which occupy leading positions in the IPTV market. Likewise, no filmmakers or TV production companies are participating. Should the three sides fail to support each others' initiatives, IPTV may remain fractured between different providers.
