SCM Microsystems and Samsung Team Up to Bring 'Triple Play' Digital TV, Voice and Data Systems to Korean Cable Market
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 2:30 AM
- PR Newswire
FREMONT, Calif., Sep 30, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- SCM Microsystems, Inc. (SCMM) and Samsung (KSE: 05930) today jointly announced the successful demonstration of a platform that will enable Korean cable operators to deliver a variety of video, voice and data services to their subscribers. The OpenCable(TM) DOCSIS(R) Set Top Gateway (DSG) includes a set-top box developed by Samsung and a removable CableCARD(TM) module developed by SCM, both of which are based on the OpenCable specifications for digital television broadcasting. Korea has adopted the OpenCable specifications, which were developed for the U.S. cable market, to deliver digital television content to between six and nine million subscribers over the next five years.
The OpenCable DSG demonstrated by SCM and Samsung allows Korean cable operators to deliver video, data and voice services -- what the industry calls a "triple play" -- over the same cable channel. Depending on their choices, operators can offer digital video broadcasting, interactivity for program selection, pay-per-view and other video services, voice over IP for telephone service, electronic program guides, and Internet data access.
"Achieving this milestone demonstrates that the OpenCable solution is real and ready to support the rapid development of the digital television market in Korea," said Young-jun, Kim, Senior Manager of Marketing at Samsung Electronics. "The close cooperation between SCM and Samsung was instrumental in making this project successful, particularly given SCM's extensive experience in OpenCable systems."
Colas Overkott, executive vice president of sales and marketing at SCM Microsystems, commented on the potential impact on the cable television market in Korea: "The OpenCable DSG architecture provides a way to deliver interactive two-way digital television and other services on the same cable modem network. In combination with SCM's CableCARD module, set-top boxes such as Samsung's will make these new services economical to deploy and easy for consumers to securely access and enjoy."
About the OpenCable DSG
SCM and Samsung worked together to develop and demonstrate an OpenCable DSG system for Korean cable operators. Based on the DOCSIS set-top Gateway Interface Specification developed by Cable Television Laboratories(R) (CableLabs(R)), Samsung developed a set-top box that can communicate with Korea's existing Cable Networks to receive information such as conditional access entitlements and electronic programs guides. The set-top can also relay information to the head end to interactively enable the immediate delivery of many other applications and services and opens up a path to add even more capabilities in the future. SCM developed the CableCARD module for the system, which must be inserted into the set-top box to authenticate the subscriber and decrypt authorized content. Formerly known as a Point of Deployment module, the CableCARD device allows cable operators to protect their broadcast content from piracy or unauthorized access.
In order to begin implementing new video, telephony or Internet services, Korean cable operators must upgrade the software of their existing DOCSIS head end systems and implement DSG compatible set-top boxes and CableCARD modules like those developed by Samsung and SCM.
SCM's background in Digital Television Decryption
SCM pioneered removable security devices known as conditional access modules for digital television broadcast decryption and to date has shipped several million modules to television operators in Europe and Asia. The company participated in the development of the Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) and OpenCable industry specifications and remains closely involved in the implementation of systems based on these standards worldwide. In 2002 when Korea was deciding on a digital cable standard, SCM played an important support role by assisting the Korean government agencies and cable industry in reaching a decision.
SCM also markets CI-MaX, a leading chip and its corresponding drivers, which enable the CableCARD host slot in set-top boxes and digital TV sets as well as a development and certification tool for the CableCARD interface called HPNX.
About Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, and digital convergence technology. Samsung Electronics employs approximately 70,000 people in 87 offices in 47 countries. Samsung Electronics is the world's leading producer of advanced semiconductors, TFT-LCDs, CDMA mobile phones, monitors and VCRs. Samsung Electronics consists of four main business units: Device Solution Network, Digital Media Network, Telecommunication Network and Digital Appliance Network Businesses. For more information, please visit Samsung website: www.samsung.com.
About SCM Microsystems
SCM Microsystems is a leading supplier of solutions that open the Digital World by enabling people to conveniently access digital content and services. The company markets its smart card reader technology for network and physical access and conditional access modules for secure digital TV decryption to OEM customers in the government, financial, enterprise and broadcasting markets worldwide. Global headquarters are in Fremont, California, with European headquarters in Ismaning, Germany. For additional information, visit the SCM Microsystems web site at www.scmmicro.com.
For more information about CableLabs, visit these CableLabs websites: www.cablelabs.com; www.packetcable.com; www.cablemodem.com; www.cablenet.org, and www.opencable.com.
NOTE: All trademarks are the property of their respective holders. CableLabs, CableCARD, DOCSIS and OpenCable are trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
SOURCE SCM Microsystems, Inc.
Dr. Manfred Muller of SCM Microsystems, Inc., +49-89-9595-5140,
or mmueller@scmmicro.de; or Deb Montner of Montner & Associates,
+1-203-226-9290, or dmontner@montner.com, for SCM Microsystems, Inc.
www.samsung.com