Farncombe to Enhance Testing Capabilities with Acquisition of MiriATE Test Automation ts

Highlights: Farncombe incorporating key elements of MiriATE in upcoming platform; unveiling new test automation roadmap this year; alreadyoffering support package for existing MiriATE clients

London, January 7th 2013 Leading media technology services provider Farncombe today announced that it has acquired the MiriATE consumer device test automation assets following the recent liquidation of Mirifice. Farncombe will re-brand and re-launch the platform in early 2013.

Farncombe has itself been using MiriATE for many years and sees demand for a number of value-added services around MiriATE, including training and scripting support. It has already developed a new real-time web-based reporting tool and is in the process of testing a number of new features.

Farncombe acquired Mirifice's Professional Services business in 2010 and had been working closely with Mirifice as a partner of choice offering solutions based on MiriATE. Farncombe will continue to support Mirifice's existing clients, which include the UK's Digital TV Group (DTG), with a new support package for customers now available.

DTG Testing has recently developed an automation system for MHEG testing of set-top boxes and iDTVs, based on Mirifice's MiriATE product. The system automates approximately 80% of the core MHEG tests. DTG Testing has also released an MHEG automated test suite for manufacturers to purchase for pre-compliance testing, prior to submission to DTG Testing for final testing.

Gary Marshall, Managing Partner for Engineering Services at Farncombe, said that the company is currently reviewing its automation solution in close collaboration with MiriATE clients. We possess a considerable amount of in-house expertise, having provided professional services to the MiriATE client base for a number of years. Following a consultation period, we will announce a detailed roadmap for test automation in 2013, he said. We are confident that this will enable the TV industry to take a significant step forward with the introduction of large-scale, cost-effective test automation deployments.

By integrating these new assets with our current portfolio of testing and integration services, we can help both existing and new clients maximise the benefits from test automation, added Marshall. We will also use these assets to empower customers to cost-effectively automate testing and integrate testing with their defect management, continuous integration and management reporting systems.

As well as automating manual testing, automation enables realistic stability endurance and stress testing, whichare impractical to execute manually. The testing is performed as a human would, but runs the tests faster, more reliably, consistently and without getting bored or tired. Features such as video analysis, motion detection, region comparison, and optical character recognition (OCR) replace the need for manual recognition and verification. The system allows testing of all types of media CPE, including set-top boxes.

The Farncombe Test Lab, launched in November 2011, provides a range of testing services to cable, satellite, IPTV, OTT and connected TV service providers, including the testing of secure implementations, automated testing and analysis and usability testing.

About Farncombe

Farncombe is the leading independent specialist digital TV consultancy, providing world-class strategic advice, engineering and design services to clients across the digital TV and entertainment value chain. Farncombe's experience in digital TV is unrivalled, focusing on the commercial opportunities in multi-platform, multi-screen and hybrid IP TV delivery.

Founded in 1991, the company now has offices in the UK, France and Germany, and is recognised as an innovator driving the industry forward and the go-to' source for independent and authoritative strategic counsel. Farncombe's client roster includes: Arqiva, Broadcom, BSkyB, BT, Irdeto, Harmonic, Kabel BW, NAGRA, NDS, Ofcom, SABC, Top Up TV, UPC, Virgin Media and YouView. For further information, visit www.farncombe.com.

Farncombe Media Enquiries:

Rachel Postlethwaite

+44 7949 883636

Rachel@rp-pr.co.uk

LINK:	http://www.farncombe.com/2013/01/farncombe-to-enhance-testing-capabili...
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