Harmonic is Key MSFT Partner

LAS VEGAS -- Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its position as a leading headend solution provider in Microsoft TV (NASDAQ: MSFT) environments, powering services for several Microsoft TV IPTV customers. A key Microsoft TV partner, Harmonic's DiviCom® Electra™ 7000 high definition (HD) and Electra 5400 standard definition (SD) MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) encoders are the third generation of products to be deployed with Microsoft TV's IPTV Edition. Harmonic has been at the forefront of innovation with the Electra platform, having introduced the first integrated encoder to simultaneously support full resolution and picture-in-picture (PiP) and the first multi-channel encoder used in a live Microsoft TV service.

Microsoft TV's award-winning IPTV Edition software platform enables broadband service providers to deliver next-generation TV experiences to consumers, including standard- and high-definition live TV channels, picture in picture, instant channel zapping, advanced VOD and DVR, and new connected entertainment experiences to consumers.

The multi-service Electra encoders are optimized for this environment, supporting these advanced services and reducing cost of ownership. Leveraging Harmonic's experience and expertise in delivering ground-breaking IP-based video delivery solutions, these high density systems offer superior video quality while minimizing bit-rates. As a result, DSL-based service providers can deploy higher quality HD and SD video while also saving bandwidth, making it possible to support multiple services to the home and higher-speed Internet access.

"Harmonic is a leading Microsoft TV partner and has been instrumental in enabling advanced video services through the integration of their products with our IPTV Edition software platform," said Joe Seidel, worldwide partner ecosystem director for the Microsoft TV division at Microsoft. "A significant number of our current customers are using Harmonic-based compression for their headends. The Electra HD and SD encoders, with their support for simultaneous delivery of both full resolution and low resolution video, offer telcos outstanding performance and superior picture quality."

Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq: HLIT)