Motorola, Inc. today enhanced its next-generation video network platform with the acquisition of Vertasent, LLC.

Based in Colmar, Pa., Vertasent is a privately-held developer of software applications that enables services such as content-on-demand or IPTV to share resources and be delivered over a common infrastructure. Vertasent's applications manage the elements in a "switched" digital video network -- a key area of interest for cable operators. A switched video architecture can increase available bandwidth in a cable network by dynamically transmitting only those channels currently being watched in a given neighborhood.

"Over the past several years, consumer demand for advanced video services, such as Video-on-Demand and High-Definition TV (HDTV) service, has risen rapidly. In response, pay-TV service providers are broadening the availability of many advanced services in order to reach a wider array of home and mobile devices," according to Mike Paxton, a cable TV industry analyst at In-Stat, a leading technology research firm.

"Motorola's acquisition of Vertasent, coupled with its purchase of Broadbus Technologies earlier this summer, now allows the company to provide pay-TV service providers with an end-to-end, open standards hardware and software portfolio that supports advanced video services and improves bandwidth management," said Paxton.

Vertasent's Integrated Resource Management solution is based on industry- standard interfaces and protocols. This can reduce expense for providers by eliminating the need to add dedicated equipment for each new service and offers the opportunity to select a best-in-class device for each element of the video network.

Together with Motorola's existing on-demand hardware solutions, the Vertasent system can offer service providers three key benefits: (1) an open platform for expanding their program offering to potentially include millions of live and on-demand titles; (2) the additional flexibility to more efficiently migrate to an all-digital network architecture; and (3) the ability to stream video programming to any device.

"Motorola is today delivering solutions that make seamless video -- in and out of the home -- a reality. Vertasent will play a critical role in our technology strategy, by providing the software 'glue' that unifies the management of advanced services and the standards-based video components in the network," said Dan Moloney, President, Motorola Connected Home Solutions. "Motorola's robust digital video platform now gains the unparalleled flexibility to deliver content one-to-one or one-to-many -- over a common network infrastructure."

Financial terms of the completed transaction were not disclosed. Vertasent's management team and employees are expected to remain based in Colmar, Pa. and be integrated into the Motorola Connected Home Solutions business.