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Cable Technology Feature Article

August 21, 2008

Comcast and Intel to Offer Interactive Applications on TV

By Niladri Sekhar Nath, TMCnet Contributor


Comcast (News - Alert) Corporation has teamed up with Intel to bring IP-based applications to the television experience using a new technology co-developed by Intel called the Widget Channel framework.
 
Widget Channel framework is an open software development framework that enables the ability to combine Internet-based applications with a TV experience through a widget-based user interface that can be easily accessed while watching television programs.
 
Its graphical user interface will let consumers click an onscreen widget to access and view a choice of Internet-based applications or content such as weather updates, news, games, and other interactive applications on their TV.
 
“The Widget Channel enables interactive applications and tru2way technology has opened the door for these types of innovations to work in the cable industry,” said Tony Werner, chief technology officer, Comcast Cable. “We’re looking forward to working with Intel (News - Alert) as we continue to bring our customers new features and services that further enhance their viewing experiences.”
 
Comcast and Intel are hoping to begin integration testing of The Widget Channel framework in the first half of 2009 on Comcast’s interactive program guide using tru2way technology, a Java-based platform with open API specifications, that’s being built into televisions, set-top boxes, and other devices. Tru2way technology enables application developers to “write” interactive applications once and see them run successfully on any cable television system or device that supports the specification.
 
“The success of the Widget Channel framework relies heavily on the support of industry-leaders like Comcast,” said Eric Kim, Intel Corporation senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Digital Home Group. “We feel this support will foster innovation and help bring new and exciting Internet widgets to millions of television sets across the country.”
 
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Niladri Sekhar Nath is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Niladri’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Michelle Robart