Motorola has been selected by two leading telecommunications providers to supply its Linux-based VIP range of IP set-tops for IPTV services. Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Com Croatia and Lithuania-based TEO LT have chosen Motorola to help them enter the era of digital TV and offer subscribers both IP-based and terrestrial broadcasts. The move highlights the rapid growth and broad customer demand for IPTV services across the EMEA region in which Motorola, as global leader, is well placed to offer a flexible, 'reduced risk' service to providers in a nascent market.

The announcement was made at the Broadband World Forum trade show, where Motorola is exhibiting at Stand 600.

Motorola's expertise coupled with the recent acquisition of Scandinavian based IP set-top system manufacturer, Kreatel, has positioned it as the global IPTV market leader according to analyst house, Multimedia Research Group (MRG). "Motorola's end-to-end IPTV services gives it a significant competitive advantage and positions the company well to facilitate deployment of IPTV across the globe." said Bob Larribeau, IPTV Program Director for MRG.

The versatile VIP set-tops, with the Motorola KreaTV Application Platform software, are small, stylish devices that provide IPTV services over DSL networks. They support a range of video codecs including the MPEG-4 (H.264) compression standard that takes up little bandwidth and provides top quality TV and video over IP networks. The flexible architecture of the Motorola VIP set-tops allows both T-Com and TEO to deliver the best solutions to subscribers.

The inbuilt Motorola KreaTV software platform provides compatibility with other IP set-top models and acts as an alternative to other inflexible "off-the-shelf" platforms. Its Linux-Java based application development platform allows for easy customization enabling service providers and application developers the ability to design their video services just how they want them.

"T-Com's MAXtv and TEO's GALA television services offer subscribers a completely new way of watching TV where the emphasis is placed on flexibility, independence and in allowing viewers to consume entertainment when and how they want to. Although IPTV will change the way entertainment is consumed, it is still relatively new and can be quite a risky business for service providers to enter. Motorola's experience in video and proven ability to deliver IPTV on our set-tops reduces that risk and puts telecommunications companies ahead of the competition," said Lars Bengtsson, Managing Director IP Video Solutions, Motorola.