ANT plc, a leading provider of embedded browser, content control and user interface software for IPTV and consumer electronics, announced that ANT Galio will be integrated into the world's first hardware H.264 decode IPTV set-top box - the IP215 - developed by Pace Micro Technology.

ANT Galio is an advanced browser-based user interface solution that complements the cutting edge capabilities of this new Pace set-top box. By combining the latest television and Web standards with high performance in a small memory footprint, Galio enables operators to develop groundbreaking interactive content and complex TV-based applications quickly and easily using existing knowledge and off-the-shelf tools. With Galio, Pace is able to offer operators a highly competitive, cost-effective solution, delivering greater flexibility to significantly raise the quality of the user experience and the range of enhanced interactive services possible on the IP215.

The IP215 uses the latest silicon technology to enable MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression decoding to take place in the hardware, replacing more expensive software based solutions. This hardware decoder, based on H.264 video compression technology, enables bandwidth to be utilised much more efficiently while also providing far superior quality pictures - offering operators a high performance, entry-level solution.

"By providing the latest H.264 decoding in hardware, the IP215 set-top box answers our customers' requirements for a viable and cost-effective IPTV solution," said David Gillies, director of technology at Pace Micro Technology. "With support for the latest standards in the smallest possible footprint, ANT Galio is a natural complement to the IP215. Other solutions require more memory, new hardware or complex custom content that is expensive and time-consuming to develop. The combination of Galio and the IP215 keeps costs and bandwidth usage low, which allows operators to enter the IPTV market and deliver compelling services to a far broader customer base than was previously possible."

"Delivering the most compelling package of programming and interactive content, while optimizing network bandwidth and head-end server costs has long been a goal for telcos and operators that wish to attract and retain subscribers," said Andrew Bovingdon, head of marketing and product management at ANT. "Galio's advanced architecture and standards support can help reduce bandwidth and server loads. So by supplying Galio alongside the advanced hardware decoding capabilities of the IP215, Pace can ensure their customers can deliver winning interactive services and complex TV-based applications while ensuring bandwidth and server requirements are kept to a real minimum."

ANT Galio is designed to enable its target markets to develop and display more intuitive, engaging and responsive user interfaces and interactive content than previously possible on STBs and consumer devices. Galio enhances the user experience and enables dynamic content ranging from local device set-up menus and controls to complex remote services such as Electronic Programming Guides (EPGs), Video on Demand (VoD) interfaces, interactive advertising and dynamic news, information and communication applications.

Also read our article about Pace Micro Technology's H.264 decode set-top box IP215.