Videotron Launches illico TV New Generation with Cisco High-Definition Digital Video Recording Services

PRESS RELEASE

Videotron Launches illico TV New Generation with Cisco High-Definition Digital Video Recording Services

Enhanced user interface and new advanced features deliver next-generation viewing experience

Montreal, Quebec – March 27, 2012 – Videotron, a leading Canadian telecommunications operator providing communications and broadband entertainment services, announced today it has chosen Cisco's HD set-top box platform to deploy the next generation of its enhanced illico digital TV service. 

Videotron will use the Cisco Explorer® 8642 HD-DVR and 4642 HD set-top boxes to deliver a best-in-class enhanced entertainment experience. Available in the province of Quebec, illico TV New Generation offers a new customer experience including advanced video services and faster navigation.  

Highlights:

·         illico TV New Generation subscribers can use their remotes to access interactive entertainment and information embedded in particular programs, such as music, weather, local information, voting and polling, and other services. Subscribers may also benefit from Digital Video Recorder (DVR) functionality, Video-on-Demand, Electronic Program Guide, Pay-Per-View, Caller ID, Weather, and the ability to choose tailor-made entertainment packages. 

·         The Cisco 8642 HD-DVR optimizes Videotron's existing Cisco-powered cable head-end infrastructure and DOCSIS® network to give consumers greater access to broader video and entertainment experiences including broadcast television and video-on-demand.

·         The Cisco Explorer 4642 HD and 8642 HD-DVR set-top boxes give service providers the opportunity to:

·         Advance their video service plans by integrating the quality of high-definition video, digital video recording, and new service application features.

·         Offer consumer innovative features such as a 500-gigabyte DVR hard disc drive that supports up to 280 hours of standard-definition and up to 55 hours of high-definition programming, hybrid video service support, open standard support, multiple tuner support as well as USB 2.0 and Ethernet connectivity.

·         Qualified to meet ENERGY STAR® Tier 1 strict energy-efficiency guidelines, the Cisco 8642 HD-DVR requires less than 1 watt of power consumption in standby mode, and is capable of ‘light sleep' mode.  

Supporting Quotes:

Pierre Roy, vice president, Engineering, Research and Development, Videotron:

"The latest generation of Cisco Explorer set-top boxes supports the Tru2way open standard allowing us to offer a tailored customer experience to a broader audience. The Cisco Explorer set-top boxes help us to differentiate our innovative service and applications while retaining our market leadership."

Mark Kummer, vice president, Service Provider Operations, Cisco Canada:

"Videotron is a leader in bringing the capabilities and convenience of HD and DVR services to Canada, and Cisco is proud to help further the company's vision. With illico TV New Generation, Videotron can continue to advance its video strategy by utilizing its head-end and DOCSIS fibre optic networks combined with Cisco's set-top technology to deliver best-in-class video entertainment   experiences on air, online, on demand."

Additional Resources:

·         About Videotron

·         Cisco Explorer

About Videotron

Videotron, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development, and Internet access, cable telephone and mobile telephone services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its interactive Digital TV service and its broadband network, which supports high-speed cable Internet access, analog and digital cable television, and other services.

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco Canada Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco, has offices across Canada dedicated to customer support, sales and service. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com/canada/.

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Alltel & Nuance Announce Voice2Text

Alltel and Nuance Announce Voice2Text


Nuance's Dragon Voicemail to Text Service Turns Alltel Subscribers' Voice Messages into Text and Delivers Them via Text Message

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. and BURLINGTON, Mass. – March 6, 2012 – Alltel Wireless and Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: NUAN) today announced that Nuance’s Dragon Voicemail to Text is powering Alltel’s Voice2Text service. With Voice2Text, mobile phones on the Alltel network can receive transcribed voice messages as text messages delivered directly to the subscribers’ message inbox.

“Carriers like Alltel need innovative voice services that meet the demands of dynamic mobile consumers,” said John Pollard, vice president and general manager, voice-to-text services, Nuance Mobile. “Dragon Voicemail to Text takes a must-have service like voicemail and delivers it with the speed and convenience required in today's messaging environment."

Alltel’s Voice2Text service greatly simplifies the voicemail experience. Customers can now read their voice messages as texts right on their mobile phone without the need for passwords or voice prompts. And because it’s a text message, subscribers can quickly and easily respond to friends, family or colleagues via text. Voice2Text features the same accurate and reliable Dragon voice recognition technology used in the renowned Dragon Mobile apps and Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Messages can be stored or forwarded, and subscribers can still hear the original voicemail recording if needed.

“Our subscribers love the simplicity of our Voice2Text service. They can quickly and easily respond to their messages without having to wait or listen to voice prompts,” said Scott Moody, Alltel vice president of marketing, Alltel Wireless.

Alltel’s Voice2Text service is currently available for a free 60-day trial, and then available for $2.99 per month. To learn more, visit www.alltelwireless.com/voice2txt. For more information on Nuance’s voice-to-text offerings, visit http://www.nuance.com.

About Alltel Wireless
Allied Wireless Communications Corporation (AWCC), doing business as Alltel Wireless, is a wireless telecommunications provider serving customers in six states. Headquartered in Little Rock, AR., AWCC is a subsidiary of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATNI). For more information, please visit http://alltelwireless.com or http://awcc.com. 

About Nuance Communications, Inc.
Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) is a leading provider of voice and language solutions for businesses and consumers around the world.  Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with devices and systems. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance’s proven applications.  For more information, please visit http://www.nuance.com.