* With CAS, every TV set has the potential to become a thin-client mini PC (or Internet appliance) which will use the TV set as computer monitor.

* Apart from a few (mostly gaming) applications hosted by high-end STBs (set-top-boxes), the major applications will be hosted by the MSO or accessed via the internet.

* STBs may incorporate cable modems, DSL modems or dial-up modems to access the Internet. Along with composite solutions which use telephone (upstream) plus cable (downstream).

* STBs with cable modems will offer broadband Internet via TV with Video chat, pay-per-view, Video-on-demand, etc.

* The market potential of STBs are expected to rival that of PCs in the coming years.

* TV set manufacturers have realized this potential – and are offering high-end TV sets with built-in digital STBs.

* And finally, 2 way digital STBs, will make convergence of TV & the Internet a reality.

Like the PC, the STB consists of hardware and Operating System (O.S.). The PC O.S. market is dominated by Microsoft, with multiple vendors fighting for the hardware pie. In the STB market, Microsoft is a latecomer trailing at No 2 position, fighting hard with current No 1 'PowerTop'. While Sun Micro’s JavaOS, Sony Corp’s AperiOS, MicroWare’s OS-9 & Linux form the bulk of the remaining aspirants.

Get ready for a battle royale!

Read: Conditional Access System For The Indian Television Industry
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