Preliminary specification is set for High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) designed to protect DTV content from unauthorized copying and redistribution, HDMI Founders group announced Fri. Work on digital interface, which incorporates JVC’s High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) encryption, was announced April 16 by consortium of Hitachi, Matsushita, Philips, Silicon Image, Sony, Thomson, Toshiba.
Preliminary specification is set for High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) designed to protect DTV content from unauthorized copying and redistribution, HDMI Founders group announced Fri. Work on digital interface, which incorporates JVC’s High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) encryption, was announced April 16 by consortium of Hitachi, Matsushita, Philips, Silicon Image, Sony, Thomson, Toshiba.
WorldCom’s financial troubles have cost state employee pension funds billions of dollars in losses and raised questions whether WorldCom is fit to bid on state telecom contracts. Some states were considering suing WorldCom because their losses appear to be result of fraud.
BOSTON -- One of hottest topics in fixed wireless arena for World Radio Conference (WRC) in 2003 is potential global harmonization for wireless access systems at 5 GHz, said Veena Rawat, deputy dir.-gen., spectrum engineering branch of Industry Canada. “It will be one of the most controversial, one of the most difficult items,” Rawat said in Thurs. panel at Wireless Communications Assn. conference here. One fundamental point of debate is whether those systems should have primary or secondary use of band, she said. While there has been interest in fixed wireless sector for creating global harmonization for wireless access services in that spectrum, Linda Wellstein, partner with Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer, said NTIA had raised interference concerns as part of WRC planning process in U.S.
Consumer intentions on buying TV sets rose sharply in June from May, according to preliminary data in Conference Board monthly survey. Of 5,000 households polled, 7.5% said they planned to buy TV set in next 6 months, vs. 6.6% in May, 7.2% in April, 7% in June 2001. Nevertheless, overall Consumer Confidence Index fell 4 points from May, hurt by weak labor market, “generally soft” business conditions and “waning public confidence in questionable business practices,” Conference Board said: “Still, the latest readings point to continued consumer spending and moderate economic growth.”
Gemstar was dealt serious setback late Fri. when ITC administrative law judge ruled that 3 of its patents for on- screen interactive program guides (IPG) hadn’t been infringed upon. Judge Paul Luckern said “no domestic industry” existed for patents, thus allowing EchoStar, Pioneer and Scientific- Atlanta (SA) to continue importing satellite receivers and cable set-top boxes. All 3 had designed their own IPGs for STBs and Gemstar filed complaint with ITC in 2001 seeking to block import of STBs it said had IPG that infringed on its patents. Ruling could mean end to Gemstar’s headlock on IPG market and it risks licensing agreements with cable TV operators, including Comcast and Charter, to use its program guides.
Gemstar was dealt serious setback late Fri. when ITC administrative law judge ruled that 3 of its patents for on-screen interactive program guides weren’t infringed. Judge Paul Luckern found that “no domestic industry” exists for patents, thus allowing EchoStar, Pioneer and Scientific-Atlanta (SA) to continue importing satellite receivers and cable set-top boxes. EchoStar, SA, and Pioneer all designed own IPGs for STBs and Gemstar filed complaint with ITC in 2001 seeking to block import of STBs it said had IPG that infringed on its patents.
CE industry and investment community were awaiting preliminary decision by ITC judge in Gemstar-TV Guide International patent case that was believed imminent late Fri. (after our deadline) and was likely have future bearing on how interactive program guide (IPG) technology would be commercialized. ITC Administrative Law Judge Paul Luckern, who postponed earlier March deadline for decision, was to rule in case in which Gemstar claimed that EchoStar, Scientific-Atlanta (SA) and Pioneer had violated its patents for IPG and was likely determine whether company built momentum or suffered blow to status as key supplier of IPG technology. Luckern’s ruling will set stage for ITC to complete investigation by Sept. 23.
Nokia trimmed its preliminary outlook for 2nd half of 2002 to sales growth of up to 10% over same period last year, down from previous expectation of at least 15% growth. At midyear investors meeting in Helsinki, Nokia stood behind earlier guidance of 80 cents per share and to estimate that mobile phones would reach 400-420 million handsets, up from 380 million year ago. Nokia has targeted 40% market share for wireless phones and taking leading market position in China. It plans to have first 3G network in operation in Sept. Separately, Nokia signed 3-year agreement with Belgacom Mobile, terms not disclosed, to build 2nd-generation GSM wireless infrastructure in Belgium, providing GSM network infrastructure to carrier, which operates under Proximus brand name.
SES Americom is “trying to sneak in the back door” by using license granted by Gibraltar to place DBS satellite at orbital location that wouldn’t be permitted if license were authorized by FCC, DirecTV Pres. Roxanne Austin said. Citing possibility of interference to DBS subscribers, DirecTV and EchoStar filed opposition at FCC to SES application to launch satellite for competitive DBS service(CD April 26 p3). “Our opposition to SES Americom’s FCC petition isn’t about competition -- we welcome the competition -- it’s about interference,” Austin said. Proposed DBS service offered by SES at 105.5 degrees would cause customers to “suffer significant service interruptions and impede our ability to deliver local channels,” she said. DirecTV said SES satellites would be only 4.5 degrees from DirecTV satellites at 101 degrees and 110 degrees, which would violate 9 degrees spacing established by ITU and FCC.