The Wall Street Journal got everyone into a lather with a report that Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is testing a new hybrid device that supports traditional MPEG-RF and IP-based video services and lays the groundwork for the MSO to support advanced user interfaces and a nimble Web services layer. (See Comcast Tests Broadband-Fed Xcalibur Service.)

The story also said that the box being tested is code-named Parker. Our checks confirm that as the code name, with multiple industry sources indicating that Pace plc is the maker of the device that's currently being tested with a small pool of participants in Augusta, Ga.

Another source says Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Korea: SEC) boxes are also involved, or will be soon. Check back soon for our story on the vendor ecosystem that Comcast is tapping into for this early experimental phase of its Xcalibur project.

So what's this gizmo look like? A source with a solid track record on such things passed along two images purporting to be the box in question. Here's one of them:



We are also asking Comcast to take a peek at this to see if the MSO can verify if this is indeed an image of the Parker box that's currently involved in the technical field trial.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable