Broadcom and SoftAtHome partnering on hybrid IP set-top box solutions

Broadcom and SoftAtHome are together developing hybrid, satellite and IP set-top boxes (STBs) for advanced video and TV services. Broadcom and SoftAtHome are creating a customized software interface tuned for Broadcom's STB chips BCM7405 and BCM7325.

The combined solutions allow service providers worldwide to deliver value-added services to home subscribers such as the ability to access personal digital content from a mobile phone, PC or TV, play content stored in the home from any TV in the world, record TV programming while traveling, surfing through recommended programs on a personal profiled TV; configure home settings or access content from favorite web sites - basically positioning the TV as the hub of the digital home. The third party application developers, integrators and service providers can also develop advanced graphical user interfaces to offer a different TV experience.

The drivers co-developed by SoftAtHome and Broadcom implement the SoftAtHome Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) by leveraging Broadcom's STB SoC's functionalities such as accelerated graphics processor, a high performance MPEG-4 video decoder and digital video recorder features.

"The combined Broadcom and SoftAtHome solution delivers a whole new TV experience to the consumer and enables service providers worldwide to quickly deploy advanced services and new capabilities to their subscribers," said Michel Degland, CEO for SoftAtHome. "We are very pleased to collaborate with Broadcom on this new and exciting STB solution and look forward to our continued involvement together."

"With our proven leadership and technology expertise in high performance set-top box solutions, the partnership with SoftAtHome brings connected and interactive TV services that accelerate the deployment of the next generation TV entertainment experience worldwide," said Dan Marotta, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Broadcom's Broadband Communications Group. "With this solution, manufacturers and service providers worldwide will benefit from higher levels of integration and a reduction in bill-of-materials cost."