Motorola ships millionth IPTV set-top box

By Colleen Taylor, Contributing Editor -- Electronic News, 4/5/2007

Marking a milestone for the booming internet protocol television (IPTV) technology, Motorola Inc. announced Wednesday that it has shipped its one millionth IP  set-top box.

"Communications companies worldwide are expanding into video through IPTV," said Doug Means, Motorola corporate VP and general manager, said in a statement.

In February 2006, Motorola acquired Kreatel Communications, a leading developer of innovative IP-based digital set-tops. Kreatel brought innovative IPTV set-top software and hardware solutions to European telecom operators and ISPs, adding significantly to Motorola's existing portfolio. Motorola shipped its 50 millionth digital cable set-top box in October 2006.

The company is not without competition, of course.  With its trademark product release fanfare, consumer electronics superstar Apple Inc. began shipping its own Apple TV video box product last month, proclaiming on its Web site that "the revolution will be televised."

Market researchers expect that premium video services are set to continue shaking up the existing entertainment media landscape in a major way, with IPTV leading the pack. IPTV is currently the fastest-expanding segment of the pay-TV market, with revenue expected to increase to $23.5 billion in 2010, rising at compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 103 percent from $681 million in 2005, market research firm iSuppli Corp. has predicted.