itaas adds developer support for BIAP’s EBIF user agent platform to the istart Developer Program

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ATLANTA, GA and PLANO, TX – March 23, 2009 - itaas, Inc. and BIAP, Inc. announced today an agreement that broadens development opportunities for enhanced television (ETV) applications by adding BIAP’s Enhanced Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) Platform and its associated development tools to itaas’ istart developer program.   This program, based on the currently deployed BIAP EBIF Platform, enables the deployment of interactive and enhanced television applications on Cisco’s digital set-top boxes.  With additional deployments of BIAP’s EBIF Platform across both legacy and next generation Cisco set-top boxes (STBs), application developers will be able to reach millions of Cisco STBs in subscriber homes.

As itaas and BIAP work together to advance the development of new EBIF-based applications and services, this agreement enables itaas to provide support, expertise and resources to developers who are creating new and compelling EBIF applications. Developers who join the istart BIAP EBIF program will gain access to development tools, documentation, software upgrades and support for the BIAP EBIF platform. Additionally, companies can engage itaas for assistance in architecture, design, development, and testing of new applications. 

“We are thrilled to work with itaas to expand the developer community for EBIF applications,” said Aaron Ye, Chief Technology Officer of BIAP. “Leveraging itaas’ application development and support expertise along with BIAP’s EBIF technology and commitment to open standards, we hope to foster a vibrant developer community and accelerate the development and deployment of new, compelling and revenue-generating EBIF applications.”

In addition to providing the cable industry with a CableLabs® standards compliant EBIF Platform for Cisco, Motorola and tru2way™ set-top boxes, BIAP also offers AdWidgets, which is an EBIF and SCTE 130 standards-based end-to-end interactive advertising system, from campaign management to delivery to viewer measurement. BIAP is the first company to deploy EBIF market wide on Cisco set-top boxes including low-memory legacy units. It recently concluded a license deal with Time Warner Cable for its EBIF User Agent.

 “Offering BIAP’s EBIF Platform and tools under the istart umbrella opens up yet another door for application developers,” said Jaspal Bhasin, Chief Operating Officer of itaas. “Developers looking to write EBIF applications can now turn to itaas for tools and support across multiple platforms and set-top box types. BIAP’s strength and resources in enabling EBIF on multiple platforms adds another compelling incentive to MSOs, application and content providers.” 

With the addition of BIAP’s EBIF Platform, the istart Developer Program offers a total of seven programs including SDKs and support for Time Warner Cable's MDN, ODN and MAS software, Cisco’s SARA/PowerTV© and OCAP Axiom™, and the TVWorks’ ETV platform.

About itaas, Inc

itaas plays a unique, multifaceted role in developing and delivering interactive television. The company reaches across the entire iTV ecosystem to ensure that customers are able to develop and deploy applications, including ETV and tru2way solutions across multimedia devices. itaas provides development, integration and testing services to the content or application provider through the broadband network all the way to the set-top box or consumer device.

For more than 10 years, itaas has worked with all iTV constituents - service providers, technology suppliers, application developers and programmers - to create and bring iTV services to market. With tools, lab facilities and deployment support across a broad range of cable TV and IPTV platforms, itaas has developed many of today's most recognized white label interactive applications. The company is headquartered in the U.S. with international facilities and more than 100 customers worldwide. www.itaas.com  

About BIAP

BIAP (Broadband Interactive Applications) supplies the cable industry with an -EBIF Platform for Cisco, Motorola and Tru2Way, as well as AdWidgets, and TVWidgets. AdWidgets is an EBIF and SCTE-130 standards-based end-to-end interactive advertising system, from campaign management to delivery to viewer measurement. TVWidgets is a suite of compelling interactive applications such as eBay on TV, Fantasy Football, Yellow Pages on TV and PiTV, a local information service that can be highly personalized.  BIAP’s products are currently available on 24 million set top boxes principally with Time Warner Cable and DISH Network. BIAP has received numerous patents for its technology and many Emmy nominations for its interactive television applications. Corporate headquarters are in Plano, Texas, with research and development in Sterling, Virginia.

Press Contacts:

Stacy O. Mitchell, JLM Partners for itaas, stacy@jlmpartners.com, 206-381-3600

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