HYDERABAD: IN a breakthrough that can make internet-based home entertainment more affordable, a Hyderabad-based company has developed a technology to deliver web-based services through a single integrated device. The new device, called "@Box", is reckoned as an affordable replacement for home entertainment Personal Computer. It is the result of an innovative research by engineers at IChips India Limited which has filed a patent for it.
At present, users have different devices like TV, phone and computer for accessing different services. With the new device, one can integrate these devices and can access web services on TV or entertainment services on computer. The new hybrid device, offering internet-based entertainment, education and communication services, comes with a remote keyboard, mouse and joystick interfaces. Users can also access 3D game, videoconferencing, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIp) services with the device.to be priced at just 100 US dollar per device, it can help in dramatically increasing internet penetration in the country, the Chairman and Managing Director of the company K A Padmanabham said. The company plans to start commercial production of the new low-cost device by March next year and deploy it in a million households within one year. It is also looking at partnering with telecom and broadband service providers including BSNL, MTNL and Bharti for launching service like IPTV and VoIP. "Unlike a PC, it is east to operate. The hardware, operating system and the software are developed by our company," Padmanabham said.The company has filed four patents for the technology and has invested about Rs 10 crore for developing the technology. "We are in talks with manufacturers in South Korea, Thailand and China for manufacturing the device. We are also looking at the possibility of manufacturing it in India,'' the company's Chief Technology Officer Kota Bhaskar.The @Box has the capability of being configured as an IPTV/satellite set-top-box with a few optional accessories. ________________________________ Notice: The information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, use, review, distribution, printing or copying of the information contained in this e-mail message and/or attachments to it are strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by reply e-mail or telephone and immediately and permanently delete the message and any attachments. Thank you To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
