Companies Adopt Two-Way CableCARD Standard

By Geoff Duncan
May 28, 2008

Sony and the leading U.S. cable operators have adopted a CableCARD that permits two-way communication between customers and service providers.

Sony and six major U.S. cable operators—Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Charter, Cablevision, and Bright House—has signed on to an agreement to use CableLabs' Java-based Tru2way technology to enable two-way communication on CableCARD-based services. The agreement will, in theory, make two-way communications possible between cable operators and CableCARD users, enabling services like interactive program guides, on-demand services, games, and even Internet-based features like Web browsing and email.

"This marketplace agreement is good news for consumers," said Sony Electronics' senior VP Edgar Tu, in a statement. "A national plug-and-play digital cable standard for interactive TV receivers, recorders, and other products that is transferable and viable wherever you live is ideal for today's mobile society."

In theory, consumers would just need to purchase or lease a CableCARD from their cable operator, and they would ...

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