Based: Burlingame, CA
Founded: 1998
www.encirq.com
Why it's fierce: The capital expenditure for IPTV deployments is the set-top box—so there's tremendous emphasis on getting the lowest possible cost for the STB that will still have a shelf-life of a few years. Encirq builds a device data management suite for set-top boxes that gives the service provider a better relational data model that they can tailor to suit their needs. The system is more intelligent: It builds viewer profiles and can streamline program listings to suit individual tastes, recommend certain shows or build a VOD library that better targets the individuals in a household. Encirq's DeviceSQL provides the fastest performance and smallest footprint for device data management. Software built with DeviceSQL runs 15 to 50 times faster than alternative data management technologies while consuming just a fraction of the memory. The software isn't the only thing that Encirq speeds up: Its customer, STB-maker Sumitomo had five guys working on their EPG over a three month period, but after adding Encirq's technology, they only needed one guy who could do it in six weeks.
What to look for: Encirq will announce new U.S.-based customers to build on its already strong and growing presence in the Asia-Pacific.