AMO.L Regulatory News (AMO)

18 Jun 2007 15:21

Amino, the world leading IPTV platform supplier, today announcedthat SureWest Communications (NASDAQ: SURW), a leading independenttelecommunications holding company headquartered in NorthernCalifornia, is deploying the AmiNET130 HD IPTV Set-Top Box (STB) as itcontinues to focus on delivering increasingly advanced digital IPtelevision services to its customers. Executives from Amino will beproviding demonstrations of the AmiNET130 at the NXTComm event thisweek at McCormick Place in Chicago, at Booth # 2023. £ The AmiNET130 is a MPEG-2/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Codec (AVC), highdefinition (HD), Internet Protocol (IP) STB. The support of low-bitrate AVC provides operators with the opportunity to growrevenue-generating services while maximizing the efficient use ofnetwork bandwidth, thus allowing operators to reach a greater numberof customers. The AmiNET130 also supports High-Definition MultimediaInterface (HDMI), providing flexible options to cover a wide range ofvideo and audio outputs together with an optical output formultichannel surround sound. £ "This is an important launch for SureWest. We expect it to help usbuild on our goal of deploying the best technology available to us tobring together the entertainment, information and communicationservices that our customers demand. We have had success working withAmino on the deployment of their HD IPTV Set-Top Boxes to date, andare very excited about this next generation HDTV box," said BillDeMuth, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at SureWestCommunications. "In addition to offering the customer a moreresponsive navigational experience, the AmiNET130 supports the latestin end-to-end digital HDTV and provides the means for futureMPEG-4/H.264 video deployment. This should improve overall videoperformance for the customer, and will allow us to continue to satisfytheir continually-evolving service expectations. This product can alsohelp us reach and better serve the large number of new customers whoare now seeking our services, both inside and outside our ILECfootprint." £ "Amino is committed to developing cost-effective solutions forservice providers seeking the latest in IPTV HD technology," said RickSailor, Vice President Sales - Americas for Amino. "Utilising an AminoAmiNET120 STB, SureWest was the first broad-based voice and videoprovider to offer HD IPTV services in the US. As customer demand forSureWest's high-quality HD entertainment content has increased, wehave worked closely to support their transition to the AmiNET130." £ "We are very pleased to have enabled a long-term customer such asSureWest to achieve this milestone. This reflects Amino's dedicationto shape the IPTV industry and validates our significant investment todevelop innovative technology," said Bob Giddy, CEO at Amino. £ In April 2007, ABI Research declared Amino the world's leadingseller of IPTV STBs for the second consecutive year. This accoladerecognises Amino's expanding footprint in emerging markets, as well aswithin the growing US market. £ About SureWest £ Serving the Northern California region for more than 90 years,SureWest Communications (www.surewest.com) is one of the nation'sleading integrated communications providers. SureWest's bundledofferings include an array of advanced digital video, high-speedInternet, local and long distance telephone, and PCS wirelessservices. SureWest's fiber-to-the-premise IP-based network featureshigh-definition video and symmetrical Internet speeds of up to 50Mbps. £ About Amino Communications £ Amino Communications (www.aminocom.com) supplies the AmiNET(TM)series of set-top boxes (STBs), renowned for their low-cost andreliability. The AmiNET range materially reduces service operators'capital expenditure, whilst offering the full range of specificationrequired; MPEG2 and MPEG4 encoding standards, standard and highdefinition TV, personal video recording and home networking. The highperformance coupled with the innovative design of Amino's set-topboxes, has brought the series industry accolades and the company aleading position within the IPTV market. £ The AmiNET series of IPTV STBs has been used in commercialdeployments and trials in over 80 countries worldwide. Amino'sprincipal customers are telecommunications, broadcast and hospitalityservice operators. Generally, AmiNET products are supplied with theIntAct(TM) IPTV software stack pre-loaded. £ Amino Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of AminoTechnologies plc. listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM, symbol AMO.Amino's HQ is based near Cambridge, UK, with offices worldwide. Copyright Business Wire 2007