MediaFriends And Hits Collaborate On Converged Communications Solutions

Top Quote EBIF-Enabled TV Caller ID Application is Ready for Commercial Launch by Cable System Operators Using the HITS AxIS Centralized Product Suite. End Quote
  • Denver, CO (1888PressRelease) July 15, 2010 - MediaFriends and HITS™ announced today that an EBIF (Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format) - enabled MediaFriends' TV Caller ID iTV application is now available for commercial launch by cable systems using the cost-effective HITS Advanced Interactive Services (AxIS™) product suite to offer iTV applications to their customers.  The HITS AxIS centralized service model supports the development, launch and operation of interactive applications using the enhanced TV (ETV) and Tru2way® open cable architectures and  provides cable operators, programmers and application developers an efficient and cost-effective entry into the iTV market.

    MediaFriends' TV Caller ID is an EBIF-enabled iTV application that delivers personalized caller ID notifications with on-screen call logs to multiple TVs in a home and is fully controlled by the user. MediaFriends enables users to personalize caller ID notifications with nicknames and send them to multiple TVs and PCs in the home.  Developed by MediaFriends and collaboratively ported to the EBIF platform by MediaFriends and HITS AxIS, the caller ID application allows cable system operators to offer this popular application to their customers quickly and affordably and to drive competitive parity, higher levels of customer engagement and additional revenues to their business.  HITS is also working with MediaFriends on field-testing their EBIF-enabled Social TV application - MediaFriends Chat.

    "TV Caller ID is just the beginning of integrating TV and real-time communication. The next step is true Social TV that enables friends to have a private chat on screen which is the next generation of EBIF services we're testing through HITS AxIS now," stated Meredith Flynn-Ripley, President and CEO of MediaFriends. "MediaFriends has demonstrated its role as a leading on screen caller ID service in the country, and we're delighted to offer more flexibility with our growing portfolio of EBIF-enabled services to cable system operators utilizing the HITS AxIS platform."

    MediaFriends' TV Caller ID joins a growing number of iTV applications that are commercially available to HITS affiliate cable systems.  HITS previously announced that FourthWall Media's Yellow Pages on TV application and icueTV's request-for-information (RFI), voting, polling and t-commerce applications are also available for commercial launch.

    "MediaFriends' TV Caller ID is a valuable addition to the lineup of EBIF applications that are commercially available via the HITS AxIS solution," stated Gary Traver, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Comcast Media Center, which operates HITS.  "Cable system operators need to know that their investments in advanced video services will benefit their businesses in the near term, and MediaFriends, a pioneer in on-screen caller ID applications, has the field experience for providing that type of assurance."

    HITS AxIS products and services for cable MSO customers include  application and network monitoring, updates and upgrade management, billing services and customer support, security, 24/7/365 technical support, training and disaster recovery services. More than 20 leading developers are currently using one or more of its product development and implementation services, which encompass business modeling, licensing, testing, configuration, hosting, affiliate sales, contract management and product launches.

    About MediaFriends:

    MediaFriends delivers real-time communications and social media experiences that span messaging (SMS, MMS, IM, Facebook and Twitter) and devices (TVs, PCs and mobile phones).  The company's MediaFriends® application suite helps mobile operators, video providers and programmers and consumer device manufacturers build subscriber loyalty and generate new revenues by bringing new social entertainment and community capabilities together. MediaFriends is headquartered near Boston, Mass.  For more information, visit www.mediafriendsinc.com.

    About HITS:

    HITS is operated by Denver-based Comcast Media Center (CMC), a subsidiary of Comcast Cable, which provides centralized content management and distribution solutions for cable systems, video content providers and advertisers.  More information about HITS and the CMC is available at www.comcastmediacenter.com.

    HITS and other marks used are trademarks or registered trademarks of Comcast. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

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