Minerva Networks announced that a number of former Alcatel IPTV middleware customers are migrating to its end-to-end solution. As part of the Microsoft-Alcatel IPTV partnership, Alcatel had to discontinue development on its IPTV offering, which Tut Systems retails under the brand iView. Minerva told FierceIPTV the telcos made the switch to its solution because Microsoft and Alcatel have their sights set on larger clients.
Minerva's new customers include Allendale Communications, Polar Communications, United Telephone and Westphalia Broadband. The company also claims that its ITVManager has features that iView doesn't, like PVR and HDTV support, as well as plans to support MPEG-4 AVC compression. Allendale Communications complained that Tut and Alcatel were unable to fix problems or add new features to their product. A deal with Minerva sweetens the pot because telcos can use their existing set-top boxes.
The move highlights the importance of choosing middleware providers that have an open and interoperable STB. Even a big player like Alcatel can get away with abandoning IPTV projects this early in the game. While Minerva stands to gain many of iView's former clients now, things could change once the Microsoft, Alcatel and SBC solution hits the ground running.
For more on Minerva's iView customer sniping:
- take a look at this press release
PLUS: Nortel picks Minerva Networks as one of its IPTV partners. Release