ATLANTA--Tandberg Television announced this week at the TelcoTV show an iPlex-based transcoding product specifically geared toward the telco industry. The UltraCompressson transcoder supports multi-format MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC standard-definition and high-definition input streams and, using Tandberg’s AVC platform, transcodes them to either MPEG-4 AVC SD or HD output.

The one-rack-unit platform iPlex video processing platform supports up to four UltraCompression transcoders. When used with descrambling receivers, the transcoding architecture reduces the cost of the overall head-end design, improves video quality and gives the iPlex increased density.

“We have the highest density in the industry,” said Matthew Goldman, vice president of technology for Tandberg. “We basically can plug up to four of these transcoding modules in and take in four HD formats. We can output four transcoded AVC programs…You want to keep the picture the best quality you can at the lowest bit rate, and you need to do it intelligently. Transcoding gives you the ability to tightly couple moving from one format to another format, intelligently.”

As more and more consumers demand HD content, telcos are increasingly looking towards MPEG-4 to differentiate their offerings and upgrade their content. Tandberg’s iPlex solution includes MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC SD and HD encoding, transrating, transcoding and picture-in-picture service generation, allowing vendors to customize their offerings to accommodate their needs and stay competitive.

“It is really the telco that is the pathfinder for MPEG-4 AVC, particularly for North America,” Goldman said. “Cable isn’t heavily pushing MPEG-4. They will have their own issues as time goes on, but satellite is there right now. So it doubly puts the pressure on telcos. What can they offer better? The transcoder, particularly in the case of the iPlex, is an answer. We offer a dedicated, best-in-class solution.”

The iPlex transcoder is NEBS level three certified, meaning that an independent third party certified its operating performance and safety of equipment. Level three certification, the highest equipment can achieve, is defined by Telcordia and describes extensive physical performance criteria for telecommunications equipment.

Tandberg has been growing and expanding its business for the past two years. It recent purchases include N2 Broadband, the VOD infrastructure provider, interactive TV company GoldPocket Interactive, IPTV content delivery company SkyStream Networks and Zetools, the Internet video company. In addition to its acquisitions, Tandberg itself was purchased as a wholly owned subsidiary by Ericsson in April of this year.

“We’ve gotten best of both worlds with Ericsson,” Goldman said. “We bring them to the forefront with leadership in best-in-class technology; we are either number one or two in market presence for every product we sell worldwide, and we get access to all their research and development.”