N2 Broadband and ICTV Create Web Services Interface for VOD Menuing

N2 Broadband and ICTV are developing a new Web Services interface for providing VOD menuing capabilities on N2 Broadband's OpenStream solution, which is a widely-deployed commercial VOD back-office solution. The new interface, which combines HeadendWare's support of standard Web technologies with N2 Broadband's open platform, allows cable system operators to bring to market new applications. For example, operators and programmers delivering VOD via OpenStream's "plug-and-play" environment could deploy headend-based menuing and merchandising that overcome the constraints of the digital set-top box. Using ICTV's HeadendWare support for audio and full-motion video and its access to web-based application logic, VOD providers could increase "take rates" and revenue through multimedia promotional elements, detailed information about on-demand titles, content reviews, and preference engines that help content "find" subscribers. N2 Broadband will offer the interface as an enhancement to the currently-deployed CORBA-based interface for OpenStream.
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http://www.ictv.com