BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Pace Micro Technology, a leading digital set-top box provider specializing in the development of emerging technologies across all television platforms, today announced the launch of its DC 501 Chicago all-digital set-top box. The Chicago set-top box is an all-digital device with a common platform designed to operate on North American cable networks.

Pace Americas' President Michael Pulli said, "We're in a unique position as the only set-top box provider with licenses and technology to deploy boxes on all types of cable T.V. networks. This underscores a major part of our long-term strategy for the North American market, which is to develop set-top box solutions with a common platform that can easily be deployed on any network."

Pulli added, "The launch of our Chicago 500 Series with its common platform for both networks is significant because it will help cable operators move toward a digital simulcast or an all-digital network more quickly and cost effectively. The Chicago DC 501 is one of the most innovative box designs in the market today."

Pace Americas' VP of Technology Chris Dinallo added, "All-digital and digital simulcast are critical industry initiatives, and uniquely, Pace is proud to be the only set-top box provider that can support all-digital on both networks. We offer the industry diversity and choice while pushing the technological envelope, by working with any conditional access and client software our cable customers choose."

"All-digital networks allow entertainment and communications to flow easily across many devices. Consumer demand, better picture quality, spectrum efficiency, competition, and the ability to offer more revenue generating services are all driving cable operators toward all digital," Dinallo added.

Pace Micro Technology plc