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Tuned to optimize the media playback experience on mobile devices, Elite Compression from Envivio Inc. enhances the company’s 4Caster C4 and M2 mobile TV encoders (see the figure). Envivio will present the compression tier at CTIA Wireless 2009 in Las Vegas in Booth 8962. Also, the company will make it available to participants in its Mobile Streaming trade-up program, which offers discounts up to 35% to operators who replace their existing software encoders with the 4Caster C4 before May 31, 2009.

According to Envivio, Elite Compression bridges the performance gap that currently exists in the mobile streaming market by targeting the many mass market mobile devices that use their central processor to decode media content. While H.263 and MPEG-4 Simple Profile compression are well matched to the capabilities of older or entry-level mobile devices, they underutilize the performance of modern mid-range handsets using processors such as the ARM11.

This prevents subscribers from enjoying the full media playback capability of their new devices. Conversely, the more complex H.264 Baseline Profile is suitable only for premium handsets with dedicated video decoding hardware, as it overloads even the newest mid-range devices resulting in low-frame-rate video and an unacceptable user experience.

Designers can use the Envivio 4Caster encoder with Elite Compression to optimize the media playback experience on mobile devices.

Envivio says that Elite Compression fills the significant void between those extremes by enabling mainstream mid-range devices, which comprise the majority of handsets in use, to deliver their optimum video and audio playback experience. Elite Compression is based on the H.264 standard, making it compatible with the standard media players provided by companies such as PV, NXP, and RealNetworks that are already installed on millions of handsets.

The addition of Elite Compression takes place entirely at the headend, making it easy for operators to deploy. While typical competing encoding solutions rely on single vendor, Elite Compression is based on the H.264 open standard. As a result it does not require special handset players or any handset upgrades to enhance performance. The net result is an instant improvement in the quality of experience for an operator’s existing subscriber base, Envivio claims.

Envivio’s flexible compression architecture will allow operators currently using the 4Caster C4 and M2 encoders to add Elite Compression capability simply by upgrading their software code. New software code can be uploaded to C4 and M2 encoders individually using the built-in Web server management interface or in groups using Envivio’s 4Manager NMS, allowing performance to be improved significantly while minimizing the impact on operational services. Elite Compression will be available on the next software releases of the 4Caster C4 and M2 encoders.