Netgem Fast Forwards The Connected Home

Monaco and Paris, France. June 8th, 2010. Monaco Telecom (www.monaco.mc) today announced the launch of the Principality’s next generation, connected TV experience. bringing their vision of tomorrow’s connected home a step closer to reality.

Created in partnership with Netgem (http://www.netgem.com), a leading provider of connected entertainment technology, Monaco Telecom’s new TV services, was created using Netgem’s award-winning NetgemTV middleware and intelligent Set Top Box (STB) technologies that seamlessly blends broadcast and broadband content with multi-platform, interactive services.

Mr. Martin Péronnet, Managing Director of Monaco Telecom, said: “Netgem’s smart hybrid solution was the most cost effective proposition for upgrading our services since we were able to integrate it into our existing infrastructure. Netgem’s open platform ensures our technology will remain future proofed since we can easily add in new and exciting broadcast and Over the Top (OTT) broadband services to customers as required.”

The new TV service combines digital cable-delivered broadcast HDTV and Pay TV channels with OTT TV services into one, branded user experience. OTT services provided by Netgem include VOD films from Netgem’s sister company Video Futur and a bespoke, interactive Monaco Telecom channel that aggregates its existing online weather, traffic and news services, updating content updated in real time.

Netgem’s set top box sits at the centre of the connected home as a high-capacity media centre that allows customers to enjoy and manage their entertainment across multiple devices throughout their homes. In addition Netgem’s introduces a new application allowing Monaco Telecom subscribers to use their iPhone as a remote control.

Christophe Aulnette, Managing Director of Netgem commented: “By offering customers the ability to wirelessly stream content around the home and to provide new types of interaction, such as our iPhone app, Monaco Telecom is a great example of an operator providing the types of services that customers will value moving forward. This deployment fulfils our vision of how smart set top boxes can be used as home entertainment gateways to provide subscribers the types of customer experience that ensure they value their relationship with the operator and takes the best out of their subscription.”

Packaged with other Monaco Telecom services at a price of €8 per month, the TV service includes a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), with permanent time-shift functionality; together with a multi-language Video On Demand service.