VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inca Networks announced today that hospitality entertainment and service provider, iHospitality, has deployed Inca's IP video processing equipment to deliver next-gen free-to-guest HD TV services at the luxury boutique hotel, The Colonnade Boston, as part of its recent $25-million renovation. The new Inca powered IP video network supports interactive HD TV services today and positions the property to be able to offer multiscreen video in the future.
The hospitality industry has aggressively adopted IP networks and Ethernet-based structured wiring to carry all services—such as TV, telephone, Internet, guestroom locks, and security cameras. Consequently, resorts and hotels like The Colonnade are facing the challenge of sourcing IPTV content for their properties when cable TV providers are supplying channels over an incompatible coaxial cable in digital QAM format.
Hospitality operators need vendors who can provide the right solutions, at the right price, to allow them to meet the needs of demanding guests and technology savvy travelers. To outfit the exclusive Colonnade Boston with HD TV services, Blueport Wireless engaged iHospitality, to leverage their years of knowledge and experience in delivering guest-based networks. Recently featured on an episode of The Travel Channel's "Hotel Impossible" series, iHospitality is an expert in the latest technologies and trends in the hospitality industry.
"Inca's Intelligent Video DeliveryTM based QAM to IP solution acts as a bridge between the video feeds the cable TV operator is offering and the high-end IPTV service the properties want to provide to their guests. Inca seamlessly converts the clear QAM channels into IP services that can be delivered over the hotel's Ethernet infrastructure," says Jeff Campbell, CEO of Inca Networks. "And by building a true IP video core today, the property is positioned to be able to offer wireless multiscreen video in the future."
Stephen Clericuzio, President and CEO of iHospitality says, "The most important factor we considered was the expandability of the network. Will we be able to upgrade down the road or insert other streams, such as local marketing channels, property cameras or in-house applications? Inca helped us future-proof Colonnade's network, while delivering a smooth, clean transition to IP and preparing the property for a future where guests will expect video streams to be available on their tablets and smart phones. The management software and tools are fantastic. Inca really has thought of everything as far as managing the IPTV network."
Using the hotel's existing network from a previous video-on-demand (VOD) system, iHospitality deployed Inca's video reception and processing equipment to receive, demultiplex, and convert 64 RF clear QAM channels from Comcast into IP streams for delivery to set-top boxes in 285 guest rooms and 9 suites. All channels can be visually monitored locally and remotely, from any web browser, using the embedded Inca VidiOS™ software tools. As the final phase of the project, Inca equipment will process and output IP streams directly to a new generation of TVs with built-in IPTV video decoding—one of the first hospitality entertainment solutions of its kind in the US.
While Inca Networks' core business is providing professional IP video infrastructure to larger telcos and cablecos in North America, the company has a long history of providing video solutions for resort and hotel developers around the world—such as Casino Dreams in Chile, the Ritz Carlton Resort in the Cayman Islands, Scrub Island in the British Virgin Islands and the exclusive Caribbean resort island of Canouan in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
"Inca's solutions provide a cost-efficient way to bring a high-quality video experience to resort guests while simplifying the complexities of managing video delivery for the hotel operator," says Campbell. "The Colonnade implementation is another great example of how Inca's Intelligent Video DeliveryTM platform helps hospitality developers, operators, and integrators deliver cost-effective free-to-guest HD TV experiences that delight their customers."
About iHospitality
iHospitality, LLC is a Boston-based hospitality entertainment and service provider that provides turnkey solutions for the hospitality and healthcare markets across the US and around the globe. Experts in all facets of video architecture, iHospitality has delivered hospitality entertainment solutions to prominent clients such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels, Disney, Hershey, and Nickelodeon. Stephen Clericuzio, President and CEO of iHospitality recently appeared as a video technology consultant on a recent episode of Travel Channel's Hotel Impossible. http://www.ihospitality.tv/
About Inca Networks
Inca Networks is reinventing the future of multiscreen video delivery. Inca offers industry-leading Intelligent Video Delivery™, a revolutionary software-centric solution for intelligent, real-time processing of linear and multiscreen television content. At its core is VidiOS™, an advanced software processing and monitoring engine that provides deep visibility and control of all video flows, combined with powerful, modular hardware. Inca's IP video solutions address all aspects of next-generation video, including high density MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 HD and SD transcoder modules for linear and multi-screen adaptive bit-rate (ABR) and HTTP live streaming (HLS) services; demultiplexing and remapping of MPTS video from satellite and off-air sources to SPTS streams in digital cable, DSL and fiber to the home (FTTH) IPTV networks; multi-viewer mosaic and status monitoring software, digital music service demuxing, and modular ASI to IP conversion. Video providers around the globe use Inca to easily and affordably deliver content, to any screen on any network, all with the best view—a superior customer viewing experience and a second-to-none view of the network. http://www.incanetworks.com/
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