Six consumer electronics manufacturers have signed binding memorandums of understanding with the top six US cable operators. ADB, Digeo, Intel, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony have all committed to the tru2way technology developed by CableLabs and formerly known under as OCAP.
The cable operators concerned are Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Cablevision, Charter and Bright House Networks, that between them represent 80% of all cable subscribers and 105 million homes passed.
Previously Intel has announced plans to build a system on a chip that would support a variety of tru2way devices, including IDTVs, set-top-boxes and DVRs.
A recent tru2way conference held by CableLabs saw demonstrations from 19 manufacturers, suggesting that the grip on the US market by Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola is finally being loostened.
The signatirues have also formed a Founders Advisory Board (FAB), composed of representatives of the cable television, content, consumer electronics and information technology industries for advisory input to CableLabs on the future development of tru2way.
ADB has recently announced the introduction of a range of tru2way products for the US market that have already achieved CableLabs approval.
Pace recently announced it had signed an agreement with a major, but unnamed, US cable operator and it is assumed this product will also be tru2way compliant.
