standards the connected world supplement
location in their home, and beyond. To make this vision real, the DLNA has the vision of creating a network of compatible devices that have earned certification according to a standard. The present slate of members is impressive, reflecting the variety of concerned parties across the Connected TV world, including Access, AT&T, AwoX, Broadcom, CableLabs, Cisco, Comcast, DirecTV, Dolby Laboratories, DTS, Ericsson, HP, Huawei, Intel, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Pioneer, Promise Technology, Qualcomm, Rovi Corporation, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Technicolor, Toshiba and Verizon. Already the DLNA’s Protected Streaming Guidelines, crucial for the transmission of any premium content to untethered devices, have been published as an international standard by the IEC. The DLNA proposes using the Digital Transmission Content Protection over Internet Protocol (DTCP-IP) to allow users to share content between devices in their home networks, but not with third parties. Specifically, the DLNA has specified a global standard for protecting content streaming between two devices, ensuring that commercial content is protected from piracy and illegitimate redistribution. But there’s more than just anti- piracy peace of mind for content owners as the payoff. A DLNA certification could be a de facto kite mark for quality in the connected home, and provide a big kick to device adoption. Said ABI Research practice director Jason Blackwell: “DLNA’s software certification programme is a significant step that will provide a powerful stimulus to the adoption and connection of
devices in consumers’ home networks. By vouching for the interoperability of devices using certified software, the DLNA will foster confidence among consumers that if they purchase certified hardware and software, their systems will work as advertised.”
And we could potentially be talking very big numbers for both consumers and devices. In revealing that its Skifta product has become the first application to be certified by the DLNA under its new Software Certification programme, Qualcomm cited analysts’ estimates that there will be nearly two billion DLNA certified devices in homes worldwide by 2014. Joerg Eggink from Access Systems confirmed: “In today's connected life, consumers want to access and share all their personal content from all devices including all brands of TV, mobile and PC. PayTV operators want to enable this and at the same time differentiate their offering without adding proprietary technology or additional hardware. The DLNA enables interoperability through published standards and a certification process that has already seen 9000 different devices certified compliant. The DLNA is a reliable and proven technology for all types of device, enabling operators to generate new revenue streams with exciting new DLNA use cases such as Remote User Interface.”
Fittingly, or frustratingly, there are more bodies attempting to do much the same things as the DLNA. The UPnP Forum aims to create connectivity between stand-alone devices and PCs from different vendors and the Internet Home Alliance, a cross-industry network of
leading companies advancing the home technology market, is exploring new uses and conducting field trials to validate consumer needs.
Yet despite the lack of technological standards, new business opportunities are being carved out as the new ways of consuming content. The journey has started. Pace’s Darren Fawcett said: “TV viewing has moved from a disconnected single dimension viewing experience, to one in which you can view side by side 3D TV at your convenience. Imagine a world where choice and quality is increased through over the top content, ultra HD and HD 3D, where content can be watched on your tablet while sat on the tube, in the kitchen or over the home network, all made easy, efficient and entertaining.”
In today's
connected life, consumers want to access and share all their personal content from all devices including all brands of TV, mobile and PC. PayTV operators want to enable this and at the same time differentiate their offering without adding proprietary technology or additional hardware. The DLNA enables interoperability through published standards and a certification process that has already seen 9000 different devices certified compliant.
And imagine each one a touch point providing a specific business opportunity. But this would be an expensive opportunity if those making the essential equipment had to make specific devices for specific standards. For a great example, look at the recent successful launch of Verizon Wireless’s iPhone which is compliant with the operator’s CDMA network unlike arch rival AT&T’s, which confirmed with GSM-based standards as used all over Europe. Did Apple really appreciate having to make two different models of the same phone? Absolutely not. Would Connected TV manufacturers appreciate having to do likewise to fit in with differing connectivity standards? Well, that is the thing that keeps manufacturers awake at night. And one last note on the importance of the industry working together to create a standard for which all companies can get cost effective scale, here are two words: Betamax, VHS.
www.ibeweb.com l the connected world supplement march/april 2011 l ibe l 27
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