(21 January 2008 3:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Digital video solutions provider Monsoon Multimedia has launched HAVA, which is being positioned as the first consumer solution to stream HD video throughout a home 802.11n or wired network.

Customers can now enjoy the full glory of HD video on multiple PCs throughout the home or view and control live home TV from anywhere in the world on a broadband-connected PC, Windows Mobile phone or handheld computer.

The company says that the HAVA wireless hardware setup is fast, easy and eliminates the need to run ethernet cables, or purchase costly HomePlug or PowerLine adapters required by similar place-shifting solutions. The included HAVA Player software includes a range of virtual remote control designs allowing users to change channels and control other features of their video source as if they were sitting at home.

Combined with 802.11n-enabled laptops, the technology in streaming true HD offers households a viable alternative to the traditional TV set, says Monsoon. Users can enjoy television and video content on their laptops as a portable, hi-resolution alternative that brings together the features of a television and the power of a PC

Intel director of marketing, mobile platforms group Erik Reid says, "Wireless-N technology with notebook computers based on Intel Centrino processor technology featuring 45nm Intel Core 2 Duo Processor delivers the speed and coverage needed for consumers to wirelessly enjoy their digital entertainment in full HD.

"Our wireless-N technology improves the home network experience – especially when multiple people access their wireless network simultaneously and enjoy bandwidth consuming applications such as full HD video entertainment.”

Monsoon’s HAVA also allows a PC to operate with TiVo-like functionality. Customers can pause, fast forward, rewind and record live TV to a PC hard disk and burn the recorded content to DVD for archiving purposes. In addition, the HAVA can employ WiFi to serve as a wireless network TV tuner for Media Center PCs within the home allowing customers to enjoy the full functionality of their Media Center XP or Vista PC without having to install a TV tuner card or place their PC in the living room.

HAVA features Monsoon’s vBooster technology that provides picture quality and enables multicast video allowing an unlimited number of PCs connected to a home network to view video content while simultaneously transmitting video to a broadband-connected PC or mobile phone anywhere in the world.

Monsoon’s vBooster technology allows the local MPEG-2 video streams to bypass the router, effectively doubling the available bandwidth, while simultaneously keeping the PC connected to the router for non-video traffic.