The Broadband Services Forum (BSF) has set its sights on IPTV and interactive services, such as gaming and video, as its top priorities, following its first meeting this week. The newly merged BSF fosters collaboration across the broadband value chain including content, service and technology providers.
The BSF meeting also marked the release of a white paper on Content-Aware Networking Services (CANS) by its Technology Working Group. Juniper Networks VP Scott Stevens outlined the action plan for the CANS project. Completion of the CANS project will include a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that will facilitate network-level device authentication and automation of service delivery. The BSF will take these APIs to a standards organization for formal codification.
The keynote "The Promise of IP Television" was delivered by Amy Friedlander, SVP of Programming at SBC. In her presentation, Friedlander shared SBC's services vision, and provided valuable insights into how service providers and their partners can work together to define and monetize new services.
The BSF is preparing to launch a brand campaign and is working with Starmark International. This includes a set of consumer-facing product logos for potential future use by consumer electronics companies to easily communicate broadband compatibility.
In addition, BSF member companies Nortel, Alcatel, Aliant, and Skystream will present a panel discussion, "Broadband Entertainment Vision," at NAB 2005 on Thursday, April 21 in Las Vegas.
The next BSF meeting, hosted by the Welsh Development Agency and BT, will be held May 16-17 at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay in Cardiff, Wales.
http://www.broadbandservicesforum.org
- In November 2004, the Broadband Content Delivery Forum (BCDF) and the Service Creation Community (SCC) agreed to merge to form the Broadband Services Forum.
