The Internet Protocol Detail Record Organization (IPDR.org), a collaborative industry consortium and recognized leader in next-generation IP service usage and exchange standards worldwide, announced it will host an open, industry wide meeting to focus on accounting and settlement standards for IPTV services. This would be applicable to telephony service providers, voice operators, broadband network providers, cable operators, entertainment content partners, support vendors, media and analysts. This meeting will allow all interested parties to influence the direction of this IPTV initiative. Sponsored by Cisco Systems, the event will take place February 23-24, 2006 at:

Cisco Systems
3750 Cisco Way
Building 15
San Jose, CA 95134

The objectives for the initiative include:

• Understanding the requirements for IPTV accounting.
• Summarizing challenges associated with all network data-related aspects of IPTV such as advertising, content settlement, user behavior, capacity management, multimedia events, and other IPTV service components.
• Developing technical specifications to address the needs of IPTV overall accounting and settlement.
• Creating an industry wide task force comprised of leaders and contributors.

"IPDR.org is known as an industry leader in the area of IP network data management, so this next phase of accounting and settlement standards for IPTV is a natural progression for this group to undertake," said Kelly Anderson, COO and president, IPDR.org. "We expect to come away with a detailed working charter and a project plan that will allow us to move forward expeditiously."

"IPTV brings the promise of genuine interactivity, networked and personalized video and blended services," said Tal Givoly, director of IPDR.org and chief scientist at Amdocs. "In order to benefit from IPTV, organizations must rely on standards that would reduce costs and increase their ability to innovate their service offerings and business models. By hosting this meeting, IPDR.org is taking a leadership role in establishing the global standards needed to allow providers to capitalize on the potential of IPTV."

There will be no fee to attend this meeting and no requirement to be an IPDR member. Registrations must be made no later than February 16. There will be a limited number of seats, so attendance will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, please send an email to Marianne Jenkinson (Mjenkinson@ipdr.org) with your complete contact information. Please visit http://www.ipdr.org for meeting information and logistics.