Widevine wins Motorola content security deal

Widevine Technologies today announced a significant win with Motorola, signing an agreement to integrate its Widevine Cypher technology on Motorola’s Multi-Service Access Platform.

Under terms of the deal Motorola will use Widevine’s software approach to content protection, termed Virtual SmartCard, and application level encryption as part of its access platform, which has been deployed by the vast majority of early telco video operators. Even more important for Widevine, the two solutions will be integrated going forward as Motorola tries to expand its market share in the IP video environment. Just last week, Motorola was awarded the primary supplier contract for Verizon’s first video service over its fiber-to-the-premises network. However, that deal will use RF technology and a traditional conditional access system for security.

"Conditional access systems that were built for cable networks don’t tend to work very well on IP networks," said Brian Baker, president and CEO of Widevine Technologies.

Widevine not only was competing with software-based solutions from NDS and Microsoft, but also an in-house system from Motorola, he said. Widevine’s solution secures content on media servers of all types, and ensure that distribution is done only over protected links.

"It was a long haul convincing Motorola that we were the right way to go," Baker said. "The interesting aspect about this announcement is that it comes at a time when they’ve got a competing component inside Motorola."

Many of Motorola’s current customers are in the small independent telco market and bought the platform when it was part of Next Level Communications, which was acquired by Motorola last year. Those telcos, which number around 100, have been notified by the major broadcast companies that they no longer would be able to carry content without greater protection, Baker said.

Additionally, several major cable operators are exploring the ability to transform their coax networks into IP-based systems, he added.