BBC wants open standards

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has made a request for contributions to an open standard to be made, for the distribution of audio and video, both offline and via real-time broadcasting, reports Advogato.

Their plan is effectively to act as the mediator between box manufacturers and content producers, with themselves as one of the content producers, but definitely not as set-top box manufacturers.

Challenges include the assumption that it is reasonable to expect ISPs to insert cacheing boxes on their premises, and the assumption that downloading, especially at high speed, is "the way to go".

Polycom, the global telepresence, video, and voice communications solutions company, has redefined desktop communications with the introduction of its first business media phone, the Polycom VVX 1500, reports msnbc.

The VVX 1500 is the first device of its kind - a business media phone that combines a personal video conferencing system with a fully-featured voice over IP (VOIP) telephone.

It features Polycom HD Voice and an open application programming interface API, a microbrowser for real-time delivery of personalised Web content as well as integration with key business applications.

Optibase, a provider of advanced video over IP solutions, has partnered with HB Communications, a provider of technology solutions for audiovisual, video and professional audio needs, according to SOA World Magazine.

HB Communications will leverage Optibase's IPTV platforms and video distribution systems as key elements in its 'total solution approach' to creating custom solutions that address its customers' audio and video needs in boardrooms, conference centres, training rooms, distance learning centres, entertainment facilities, museums and houses of worship.

Through its partnership with Optibase, HB Communications can now provide its customers with a full line of video encoders, ranging from the carrier-grade MGW 5100, and the MGW FlashStreamer, which provides Internet encoding and streaming, to the compact and cost-effective H.246 encoder, the MGW Micro.