Digital Trends
Cox Cable has introduced a new traffic management system on its broadband network that will "momentarily" throttle data transfers on content it deems less time-sensitive—like file uploads, P2P applications, and Usenet—during periods of network congestion. The new system will be tested in Kansas and Arkansas, and expended to other Cox markets if the trials go well.
Cable operator Cox Communications has had its eye on wireless services for a while, putting a substantial amount of money into spectrum licenses in the 700 MHz band the FCC auctioned off earlier this year and which will become available once analog TV shuts off in the United States. Since then, Cox has bought up between $500 and $550 million in wireless capacity in its cable markets—New Orleans, San Diego, Omaha, Las Vegas, Kansas, New Mexico, and (of course) its home turf of Atlanta, and plans to offer wireless service to its existing 6 million cable customers.
Fresh from winning its EchoStar patent suit—even if a just has put a hold on actually shutting down infringing EchoStar DVR units for the time being—a strangely resurgent TiVo announced yesterday it has reached a deal with Cox Communications to supply software for DVR units offered by the cable operator. Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.
Under the terms of the deal, TiVo will provide a customized version of its DVR software for deployment on compatible DVR as a downloadable feature; Cox will thereby be able to offer TiVo service to subscribers without replacing existing DVR boxes. TiVo and Cox expect TiVo service to be launched in selected Cox markets in the first half of 2007.
These improvements are designed to further increase the robust recording capabilities and navigation of the service.
In addition to current DVR functionality such as the ability to record a program to watch at a later time, record high-definition programming (viewable only with an HDTV set or monitor) and pause and rewind live TV – the new dual tuner functionality allows customers to record two programs simultaneously while watching a previously recorded program, or watch a live program while recording an additional program. The dual tuner software will be automatically downloaded to the customer’s set-top box, the HD-capable Motorola DCT6412.
From the Verisign press release:
VeriSign, Inc. and Cox Communications today announced that Cox has implemented VeriSign NetDiscoveryServices to help ensure compliance of its Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-based cable telephony services with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). Cox Communications launched its 12th telephony market in December 2003 in Roanoke, Va., and its first using VoIP technology. Eleven other Cox systems offer Cox Digital Telephone using circuit-switched technology, all CALEA-compliant since first introduced in 1997.
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