Liberate Unveils New Software Platform Compatible With Proposed Standard, 'OnRamp to OCAP' NEW ORLEANS, May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Liberate Technologies(R) (LBRT) today introduced TV Navigator(TM) 5, the first software platform that allows cable operators to deliver OCAP (Open Cable(TM) Application Platform) Java(TM) applications to today's deployed set-top boxes. With TV Navigator 5, cable operators can rapidly launch services competitive with satellite while ensuring forward compatibility with future OCAP devices. By allowing OCAP content developers to tap into a large and rapidly expanding national footprint of digital set-tops, Liberate's TV Navigator 5 Java platform energizes the launch of OCAP services. Cable operators in Europe and the US have deployed Liberate TV Navigator software on millions of digital set-top boxes to run multiple services -- including EPGs (electronic program guides), VOD (video-on-demand), PVR (personal video recorder), and HDTV (high-definition television). Liberate TV Navigator 5 augments the stability and robustness of this proven software architecture with the first Java and OCAP-compatible environment available for use on deployed Motorola and SA set-top boxes. Based upon the draft "On Ramp to OCAP" specification (JSR 242 [Java Specification Request] of the Java Community Process, awaiting completion) Liberate TV Navigator will track updates and ensure compliance with the specification as it evolves. "Looking at an industry with a 5-7 year lifespan objective for set-top boxes, the best way to beat satellite and gain a nationwide content footprint is to leverage the existing installed base. TV Navigator 5 does this for North American cable by enabling the OCAP concept to embrace all of the 30+ million digital STBs deployed today," said Mark Vickers, Liberate's Chief Technology Officer. "With TV Navigator 5, cable operators can deploy applications today that are compatible with OCAP tomorrow." "The objective of the 'OnRamp to OCAP' standard is to provide a mechanism for cable operators to rapidly deploy new applications and services on their installed base of digital set-tops, while maintaining compatibility with future OCAP-based boxes," said Bill Sheppard, Industry Marketing Manager, Digital TV, at Sun Microsystems, Inc. "OnRamp serves as an enabler of the future widespread deployment of OCAP by providing a natural, forward-compatible migration path to OCAP for legacy STB's." "Cox and the North American cable operators remain committed to OCAP and view OnRamp as an accelerator of OCAP deployments," said Craig Smithpeters, iTV Systems Engineer at Cox Communications. Liberate is demonstrating TV Navigator 5 for customers, partners, and press during the NCTA trade show. Liberate will be showing third-party OCAP applications (such as those from The Weather Channel and Buzztime) running unchanged on both OCAP and legacy Motorola and Scientific Atlanta set-top boxes. The demonstration is located in a Wyndham Riverfront Hotel across from the convention center, and will be available from Monday through the end of the show. To reserve a time to see the demonstration, please contact Sylvia Acacio (). Additional information is available at http://conference.liberate.com/. About Liberate Technologies Liberate Technologies is a leading provider of software for digital cable systems. Based on industry standards, Liberate's software enables cable operators to run multiple services -- including High-Definition Television, Video on Demand, and Personal Video Recorders -- on multiple platforms. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Liberate has offices in Ontario, Canada and the United Kingdom. NOTE: Liberate and the Liberate design are registered trademarks of Liberate Technologies. Other product names used in association with these registered trademarks are trademarks of Liberate Technologies. industry. Contact: Paul Dawes Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Liberate Technologies 650-645-4007 Blair Beebe Director of Marketing and Communications Liberate Technologies 650-645-4010 DATASOURCE: Liberate Technologies CONTACT: Paul Dawes, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, +1-650-645-4007, or , or Blair Beebe, Director of Marketing and Communications, +1-650-645-4010, or , both of Liberate Technologies Web site: http://www.liberate.com/

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