Entone (News - Alert) and Minerva Networks have teamed up to launch a new whole-home digital video recorder (DVR) device.

 

Minerva contributed its Television Manager Middleware platform, which was incorporated with Entone’s high-definition Internet Protocol video gateway to create the new DVR.

 

Entone’s Hydra HD IP video gateway has been built to permit advanced IPTV (News - Alert) services as an advantage to service providers. The whole home DVR functions using existenting home coax cabling and does not require a set top box for every television set.

 

“Operators want to use the existing in-home wiring infrastructure in order to reduce their IPTV deployment costs,” said Jean-Georges Fritsch, chief operating officer at Minerva Networks (News - Alert), in a statement. “Entone’s Hydra extends the DVR functionality among televisions throughout the home without requiring additional cabling or set-top boxes, driving down costs while enabling a differentiated customer experience and additional service revenue opportunities.”

 

The whole-home DVR solution has been designed to cut down on the costs for service providers, since it effectively minimizes the deployment charges for their video distribution networks. In addition to this, the Whole-Home DVR from Entone and Minerva also offers viewer flexibility and better features for users.

 

The new DVR solution also enables users to utilize any programs or videos that they might have recorder earlier from the television. In comparison to other DVR services available that allow recording and playback form the television set, the Whole-Home DVR from Entone and Minerva is compatible with any device and also allows users to both record and playback content simultaneously via a single device.

 

The company also plans to market their latest solution in Las Vegas at the NXTcomm08 this year.

 

“To be competitive in this dynamic market, it’s important for operators to get new revenue-generating services to market as soon as possible,” remarked Ian Jefferson, vice president of Business Development at Entone. “By leveraging our close partnership with Minerva Networks, we’re able to offer a multi-stream IPTV solution with whole-home DVR capabilities that is ready to be deployed,” he explained.