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Press Releases
2011.03.17

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ACCESS and Vestel Make HbbTV a Mass-Market Proposition

Vestel STBs and iDTVs Now Shipping With ACCESS NetFront Browser for HbbTV

IP&TV World Forum, London, — March 17, 2011 — ACCESS CO., LTD., a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile, beyond-PC and digital TV markets, and Vestel Electronics, a leading OEM and ODM in the consumer electronics and digital products markets, today announced that Vestel HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) set-top boxes (STBs) and new generation iDTVs (integrated DTVs) are now shipping with ACCESS NetFront Browser DTV Profile HbbTV Edition. This is an important development for Europe’s TV landscape, as the devices are the first cost-effective, mass-market solutions enabling TV viewers to access and enjoy HbbTV interactive services. The availability of HbbTV functionality also helps future-proof consumers’ current iDTV purchases.

“It’s very exciting to see the acceleration of HbbTV’s acceptance throughout Europe, which makes it more and more likely that HbbTV will be the dominant standard in Europe for next-generation TV services, blending broadcast TV with broadband delivered video and services,” said Klaus Merkel, Manager of the HbbTV Project, IRT.

Commenting on ACCESS and his own company making HbbTV a mass-market proposition, Hakan Kutlu, Deputy General Manager for Marketing, Vestel Foreign Trade, said: “We chose the ACCESS solution because it uniquely provides an embedded TV browser that meets the needs of the operator at the same time as providing the exciting new TV user experiences. I look forward to seeing ACCESS and Vestel making HbbTV a hit with operators and consumers throughout Europe.”

NetFront Browser DTV Profile HbbTV Edition has a small RAM/ROM footprint and low CPU power consumption. This means that operators can offer an exciting range of new services with a deployment of affordable STBs. Supporting almost any mainstream OS and CPU, NetFront Browser can be integrated with other ACCESS connected digital TV software, including NetFront Living Connect a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) Technology Component home network solution and the NetFront Widgets applications platform. Vestel Electronics announced in June this year that it plans to integrate all three ACCESS solutions across its entire range of connected digital TVs and STBs.

To date over one billion NetFront Software Series products have been shipped around the world in a wide variety of devices including mobile phones, digital TVs, set-top boxes mobile handhelds, game consoles, automobile navigation systems and many other types of products.

“To become a success a new TV technology has to work for the operator and the consumer. But more than that it needs to be widely available at a cost that won’t get in the way of mass-market acceptance – and that’s what we are helping Vestel to do by integrating our HbbTV software solution in all new Vestel iDTVs and STBs,” said Dr. Neale Foster, VP Global Sales IA, ACCESS. “HbbTV is an incredibly exciting concept, I’m delighted that Vestel, which produces 1 in 4 of Europe’s TV’s, has chosen our solution. And I’m really looking forward to working with Vestel to drive forward the mass-market acceptance of HbbTV throughout Europe.”

ACCESS will be demonstrating NetFront Browser DTV Profile HbbTV Edition at this year’s IP&TV World Forum in London (stand #155). The company will also be demonstrating NetFront Living Connect 2.0 its next-generation DLNA software solution that allows end users to seamlessly enjoy their digital content anytime and anywhere. Demonstrations will be shown on a variety of devices including digital cameras, digital photo frames, mobile phones and tablets based on iOS.

About ACCESS in Digital TV
ACCESS provides embedded software solutions that support global and regional TV standards and enable broadcasters, operators and consumer-electronics manufacturers to meet the expanding market for catch-up TV and connected TV services, including HbbTV and VoD. The company also enables seamless media access across connected-consumer devices with a certified Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) software solution.

The company’s core offerings for digital TV include:

  • NetFront Browser DTV Profile – NetFront Browser DTV Profile is optimized for digital TV environments and powers services such as BBC iPlayer, while also providing seamless access to hybrid broadcast and broadband services such as HbbTV.
  • NetFront Living Connect – NetFront Living Connect is a next generation DLNA Technology Component solution that makes seamless connectivity for home consumer electronic devices a reality.
  • NetFront Media Player – NetFront Media Player enables playback of streamed and broadcast video for set-top boxes and digital TVs.
  • NetFront Widgets – NetFront Widgets delivers value added widget-based services for digital TVs.

For more information visit:
www.access-company.com/products/internet_appliances/netfrontdtv/dtv_solution/

About Vestel
Vestel Group is comprised of 25 companies operating in the manufacturing, technology development, marketing and distribution fields in the consumer electronics, IT, digital technologies and household appliance markets, with €3.7 billion turnover. Vestel is one of the largest ODM LCD TV manufacturers in Europe. For further information, visit our web site at www.vestel.com.

About ACCESS and ACCESS Europe
ACCESS CO., LTD. is a global company providing leading technology, software products and platforms for web browsing, mobile phones, wireless handhelds, digital TVs and other networked devices. ACCESS’ product portfolio including its NetFront series provides customers with solutions that enable faster time to market, flexibility and customizability. Recently, ACCESS has launched NetFront Life as a global brand with applications and services for end users. Additional information about NetFront Life is available at www.netfrontlife.com. The company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operates subsidiaries and affiliates in Asia, Europe and the United States. ACCESS is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers’ Index under the number 4813. For more information about ACCESS, please visit www.access-company.com.

ACCESS Europe GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of ACCESS CO., LTD., with its main office located in Oberhausen, Germany. ACCESS established its first office in Europe in July 2001 as a total solution provider to the mobile and beyond PC markets.

© 2011 ACCESS CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
ACCESS, the ACCESS logo, and NetFront are registered trademarks or trademarks of ACCESS CO., LTD. in the United States, Japan and/or other countries. DLNA and DLNA Certified are registered trademarks of the Digital Living Network Alliance. Digital Living Network Alliance is a service mark of the Digital Living Network Alliance.
All other trademarks, logos and trade names mentioned in the document are the property of their respective owners.