RVU Alliance Certification Program Goes Live

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The RVU Alliance today announced that its certification program for RVU client devices is now open for client device validation. The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), an independent provider of broad-based testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry, will be the first independent vendor to handle the certification program for RVU products.

“We look forward to working with the RVU Alliance to help realize their vision for the home user”

RVU is a client/server-based technology that allows a television viewer to experience a consistent, pixel accurate, server-generated user interface, with various consumer electronics devices acting as client devices. The first RVU client devices are now entering the certification process, which was developed by the RVU Alliance, with independent validation performed by the UNH-IOL.

“We are very pleased to see the RVU client certification program go live,” said Robin Mathews, Chair of the RVU Alliance Certification work Group, and member of the RVU Alliance for Verizon. “With the first devices now entering the certification process, we expect they will be available for deployment in the next couple of months. With the strong experience and background of the University’s InterOperability Laboratory, we are confident that a robust certification process will ensure device interoperability that will ultimately deliver superior consumer experiences.”

“We look forward to working with the RVU Alliance to help realize their vision for the home user,” said Bob Noseworthy, UNH-IOL Chief Engineer. “Our 20 plus years of interoperability testing experience will help ensure that users will enjoy their content, using a consistent interface, on the device of their choice.”

RVU devices are developed using the publicly available RVU specification, which uses widely implemented DLNA technologies to enable a gateway device such as an advanced set-top box to share its user interface with client devices including connected smart TVs, Blu-ray players, and tablets. RVU offers benefits to service providers by making their viewing experience and features available to connected CE devices in a consistent manner, and consumers benefit from a consistent user experience throughout the home across all their CE devices. First certified devices will be based on the ratified RVU 1.4 specification. Further expansion to version 2.0 is underway, which will include support for advanced graphics, and additional profiles to support mobile client displays.

The RVU Alliance is a non-profit organization created to facilitate the adoption of the RVU specification. Membership of the RVU Alliance spans the industry, and includes broadcasters, CE manufacturers and technology partners in North America, Asia and Europe.

About RVU Alliance

The RVU Alliance is an Oregon-based non-profit mutual benefit corporation formed to develop a specification for the new RVU technology including a full-featured “pixel accurate” Remote User Interface (RUI). Founding Promoter members are Broadcom, Cisco, DIRECTV, Samsung and Verizon. Other Promoter members are Active Video Networks, Applied Micro, AT&T Labs, Entropic, Huawei, JetHead Development Inc, Humax, LG, Motorola, Inc., Morega, Pace PLC, Sigma Designs, Sky, Solekai Systems, ST Microelectronics, Technicolor, Trident Microsystems and Vixs. The RVU Alliance complements and benefits existing industry interoperability initiatives and underscores its founders’ commitment to the sharing of digital content in the connected home. For more information about the RVU Alliance and to see the current full list of member companies, please visit www.rvualliance.org.

About the UNH-IOL

Founded in 1988, the UNH-IOL provides independent, broad-based interoperability and standards conformance testing for data, telecommunications and storage networking products and technologies. Combining extensive staff experience, standards bodies participation and a 32,000+ square foot facility, the UNH-IOL helps companies efficiently and cost effectively deliver products to the market. For more information, visit http://www.iol.unh.edu/, or connect with the UNH-IOL on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UNHIOL, on Twitter at @UNH_IOL and on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/unh-interoperability-lab.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.