Verimatrix and Envivio announce a collaborative solution that enables pay-TV operators to use Apple's HTTP adaptive bitrate streaming technology for the iPhone to deliver IPTV and over the top content that scales effectively across mobile devices, PCs and other client types. The solution pairs Envivio's 4Caster C4 three screens encoder/transcoder with the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System to create a unified headend that delivers protected SD and HD content over unmanaged networks to any Internet-connected consumer playback device.

Introduced as a component of Apple OS 3.0 for the iPhone, adaptive bitrate streaming delivers smooth audio and video streams using Internet-standard HTTP protocols. The technology supports automatic adaptation to available network types and automatically switches to the optimal bitrate for a smooth quality playback experience. Envivio 4Caster C4 enables its deployment by ingesting analog or digital sources and then encoding and encrypting the content for delivery at multiple bitrates to multiple devices. In this solution, the 4Caster C4 is integrated with Verimatrix VCAS, which provides for key management, user authentication and unified right managements. The combination enables pay-TV operators to create unique service offerings for multi-screen delivery. Furthermore, live and video-on-demand (VOD) content can be delivered using the same protocols with easy incorporation of targeted advertising segments.

Offering security independent of delivery format is a key aspect of the next-generation VCAS platform that shifts the core value proposition beyond content protection alone towards the broader perspective of revenue security. VCAS provides software-based security for broadcast and VOD content in more than 250 global pay-TV deployments. Through the use of mature, proven two-way Internet security protocols, a Public Key Infrastructure public/private key pair system and X.509 digital certificates, VCAS eliminates the vulnerabilities related to legacy architectures, enables less expensive client device hardware and offers renewable security that can be efficiently updated as required.

Demonstrations of adaptive rate streaming for the iPhone and PC can be seen at IBC 2009, Stand 5.B45 (Verimatrix) and Stand 1.D72 (Envivio). A white paper providing more background on the significance of this technology for the business of pay-TV is also available at Verimatrix's booth.