Spirent(R) Communications Adds New Features to ...

SUNNYVALE, California, February 10 /PRNewswire/ --

    - Lip Sync and Live Network Testing Capabilities on Spirent VUE Solution 
Enable First Complete, Comprehensive Assessment of Mobile Video User 
Experience



    Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT), a global provider of performance
analysis and service management solutions, today announced important new
capabilities for the Spirent 8100 Video User Experience (VUE) solution.
Spirent VUE now offers a new Lip Sync test feature to measure audio-to-video
synchronization errors associated with mobile video transmission. In
addition, a new Application Development System (VUE-ADS) configuration is
available, enabling video user experience testing of any mobile video
technology under a wider range of test conditions, including live network
testing.



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    Widespread 3G infrastructure rollouts have ensured that bandwidth is no
longer the weakest link in video service performance. However, video service
deployments continue to fall short of customer expectations based on the
combined consideration of price, accessible content, and Quality of
Experience (QoE) on the mobile device. To deliver on the promise of revenue
growth from video services, network operators need the right answers in each
of these three areas, including the use of performance metrics to help
address QoE.



    Spirent VUE system provides mobile operators and device manufactures with
a unique solution that delivers an objective, quantitative assessment of a
user's experience with video services. The new Lip Sync test capability
provides statistical analysis of the offset between the video and audio track
over the entire duration of the source video clip. Lip Sync is a key element
in the user experience of any video service and this new tool provides the
quantified insight necessary to develop approaches that effectively address
the issue in mobile platforms.



    The new VUE-ADS configuration introduces the flexibility required to
apply Spirent's industry-leading mobile video measurement technology to
challenges beyond those addressed by the fully-integrated VUE solution. These
include video performance testing of devices on live networks, as well as
over other mobile video delivery technologies such as DVB-H. The VUE-ADS
configuration is targeted at network operator acceptance teams wanting to
test video performance on a live network infrastructure rather than in
lab-based emulated network environments. It is also addresses the needs of
research and development teams that want to test video performance on mobile
device reference designs that may not yet have a cellular interface. The
VUE-ADS configuration also offers the same range of measurement capabilities
as the original fully-integrated VUE system, including the identical test
cases and video test content installed on the multimedia server.



    "Identifying video performance issues prior to device deployment is more
likely to result in a satisfied user who will continue subscribing to video
services and is less likely to return the device, or in extreme cases move to
another operator," said Gene Kientzy, vice president, Multimedia Test
Solutions at Spirent Communications. "Spirent has adopted a unique
measurement methodology to overcome the challenges inherent in a
comprehensive assessment of the complete mobile video user experience. The
latest additions to Spirent's VUE solution enhance our leadership position in
performance testing of mobile devices beyond minimum industry-standard
requirements."



    Built on Spirent's modular 8100 Mobile Device Test System Platform, the
VUE test solution promises to change the way the mobile industry evaluates
video service performance. It employs a high-speed, high-resolution digital
video camera to capture visible activity on the device display, from the
moment a video is requested through playback completion. The recorded
activity is then analyzed for Key Performance Indicators that include Video
Start Time, Video Interruptions, Video Missing, Video Quality (MOS) and now
Video-Voice Time Alignment (Lip Sync). All of this can be accomplished in a
controlled laboratory environment with full test automation enabling timely
and cost-effective root cause identification and debugging.



    The VUE test solution is available in multiple configurations to address
a broad range of budget and testing needs. The most basic configuration is
the new VUE-ADS test solution that allows for testing of any technology as
required by the user. The most advanced configuration is the lab-based UMTS
VUE Module built on Spirent's 8100 Mobile Device Test System platform that
provides RF channel emulation using the Spirent SR5500 Wireless Channel
Emulator and cellular network emulation using the Spirent SR3420 UMTS Network
Emulator.



    Spirent Communications will be demonstrating its VUE test systems next
week at the 2009 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Spirent's booth
is located in Hall 1, stand C14 at the February 16-19 event. For more
information visit www.spirent.com/go/vue.



About Spirent Communications plc

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    Contact      Sailaja Tennati
                 Spirent Communications
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