Artec technologies AG plans to launch new products and IPTV systems this year. These include new functions enabling users to find the content they want simply and effectively amid an ever-growing selection of television programmes. “As the range of digital television and IPTV programming continues to grow, users increasingly need simple operation and guidance through the digital TV jungle. This is where our new solutions come in,” says Thomas Hoffmann, CEO of artec technologies AG.
Another development focus is IPTV solutions that deliver video content over the internet independently of software, video formats and end devices. The foundation will be an IPTV platform based on a new video transmission standard, announced for the second half of 2008. Thomas Hoffmann says: “Users want unrestricted access to video content. Our solution will provide exactly that and make television available on the internet or on mobile phones.” The company plans to preview its innovations at CeBIT in Hanover and IBC in Amsterdam.
Artec technologies has attracted attention with pioneering developments in recent years. Last year, VideoSnooper.tv—the world’s first television search engine, developed in northern Germany—launched online as a beta version. Plans call for this technology to be expanded with a recommendation engine that presents viewers with new television content based on their programming preferences.
Artec technologies has developed and sold solutions for digital television and IPTV for more than a decade. Its systems are used by numerous media and telecommunications companies around the world. In Germany, customers include WDR, MDR, ASTRA Platform Services and Deutsche Telekom. Internationally, artec technologies has supplied broadcasters including Euronews, CNN in Hong Kong and ABC in Australia. In January 2008, a digital TV archiving system for the Qatar News Agency (QNA) in Qatar went into operation. Developed and delivered entirely by artec technologies, the solution records 82 television channels in real time and archives their programmes digitally. The entire Qatar News Agency editorial team can access the TV content online and use a search function to research specific words or terms within the extensive archive with precision down to the second. The next step is planned to expand the system with an IPTV platform. Further orders are currently in preparation.
