New Penthera(TM) Mobile Broadcast Software Gives TV Fans Anytime, Anywhere Access
Penthera Technologies Inc., a leading provider of mobile broadcast
and multimedia software to operators worldwide, today announced
Penthera Mobile Broadcast Platform(TM) Version 2.0, which enables
error-free broadcast delivery of any media file -- MP3s, podcasts,
video clips, full-length TV shows, movies, commercials, etc. -- to
broadcast-enabled mobile devices.
Through its new Mediacast(TM) system, this latest release of a
Penthera end-to-end broadcast software platform allows mobile
operators to reliably tricklecast -- or broadcast over time -- files
to their subscriber's mobile devices, for storage and later playout.
Receiver devices supported include mobile phones, Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs), laptops, portable media players and in-car
entertainment systems. With the Mediacast system enabled on their
portable devices, consumers can access and play back virtually any
type of media content whenever and wherever they want to. Another new
feature included in the Penthera 2.0 platform is digital video
recording (DVR) capabilities that allow users to record and save their
favorite programming to their mobile device -- even while watching
another program -- for viewing at a later time.
"With the explosion of services like TiVo(R), and "on demand" TV
services, we've all become accustomed to watching programming on our
schedule," said Penthera CTO Adam Berger. "Penthera has developed a
robust and feature-rich technology solution that allows a broadcaster
to deliver 1000 channels where once only 10 could fit. This is where
mobile TV needs to be to reach mass adoption."
The end-to-end product suite from Penthera is designed for use
over any digital broadcast bearer network including DVB-H, T-DMB,
DAB-IP, ISDB-T, DVB-T, S-DAB, and 802.16e (mobile WiMax). The
Mediacast system is designed to guarantee delivery of broadcasted
files, even to receiving devices hampered by weak or intermittent
broadcast signals. This is achieved through the unique implementation
by Penthera of the patented Digital Fountain(R) DF Raptor(TM)
algorithms, which intelligently fills in any lost data packets, or
"holes", inadvertently introduced into media during content
broadcasting. Receiver devices can lose several minutes of file
transmission in the interruption-prone mobile broadcast environment
and yet still receive the file in a shortened time period and with no
errors. Penthera's Mediacast also reduces broadcaster costs while
optimizing the use of network bandwidth by alleviating the need to
continually resend entire files until received without interruption, a
challenge in the interruption-prone mobile broadcast environment.
For broadcasters, the Mediacast solution includes an
administrator's console for managing content delivery schedules and
transmission parameters. Within the handset software, Mediacast
includes an intuitive electronic programming guide (EPG), allowing
users to view programming schedules, select and/or subscribe to
desired content, and browse through content already saved on their
device. Once the content has been saved, users can play, pause and
scan throughout the content at their leisure. The Mediacast system
supports both the proprietary media content supplied by an operator as
well as podcasts, user-generated content, and other Media/RSS content
available on the web.
Penthera Mediacast software also enables a more interactive mobile
content experience including features such as 1-button tele-voting,
contextual ad-insertion and mobile-commerce, opening up a whole host
of new revenue opportunities for carriers.
Penthera will be unveiling their new Penthera Broadcast Center
Version 2.0 software with Mediacast at the world's leading mobile
communications conference and exhibition, 3GSM World Congress 2007, in
Barcelona, Spain, from February 12-15, 2007. If you're interested in
scheduling a demo at 3GSM, please email: bizdev@penthera.com.
About Penthera
Penthera is a privately held company providing a complete software
solution for mobile broadcast services. Penthera's solution set
includes a carrier-class, broadcast head-end services platform, along
with middleware and application-level software for handheld devices.
Founded in 2005, Penthera is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
For more information, visit the company web site at
http://www.penthera.com.