Nortel unveiled another part of its IP-TV strategy with the launch of a set-top box for carriers looking to offer television services to consumers. The box, which will be built by Nortel’s LG-Nortel joint venture, could put an end to speculation that Nortel is looking to make an acquisition to get into the business, which includes rival such as Cisco and Motoroal. Nortel has been using Cambridge, U.K.-based Amino Communications as a set-top box partner. Consultant Rob Enderle told LightReading that Nortel could established a foothold in the set-top box business by making it work extremely well with other Nortel gear used by carriers – thereby making it difficult for rivals to get into the market. “You only have a few companies in each geography that can sell products of this class, so you could have a chance to lock someone out,” Enderle says.
Yawn. Nortel has not been successful at the edge since the 1980s. This box and announcement will not make it so. If they are relying on carriers or MSOs to market it for them or some vendor lockout ploy in the standards bodies, they are sadly going to fall flat again.
It (IMO) stems from their sales force (or lack thereof). If they want to play in this space, they need to understand and emulate the cisco model for selling to the edge which is similar to the wireless carriers handset model. Simply put: push as much hardware as you can. No ifs, ands or buts you market it cleverly and appeal to a well targeted segment, no ethereal weirdo meaningless ad campaign (nya-ney-ney neyahhg).
The nortel “order taker” mentality left over from the telco days will not cut it.
There used to be a group at nortel that got this fact in the terminals division and made huge efforts (and inroads) into product placement (terminals, ringtones etc) in movies and TV shows. They were wacked. Now cisco has all of the product placement in the popular shows. “Dude, where is my stock price?”
Nortel-LG Unveil Set-Top Box
Nortel unveiled another part of its IP-TV strategy with the launch of a set-top box for carriers looking to offer television services to consumers. The box, which will be built by Nortel’s LG-Nortel joint venture, could put an end to speculation that Nortel is looking to make an acquisition to get into the business, which includes rival such as Cisco and Motoroal. Nortel has been using Cambridge, U.K.-based Amino Communications as a set-top box partner. Consultant Rob Enderle told LightReading that Nortel could established a foothold in the set-top box business by making it work extremely well with other Nortel gear used by carriers – thereby making it difficult for rivals to get into the market. “You only have a few companies in each geography that can sell products of this class, so you could have a chance to lock someone out,” Enderle says.