February 22, 2010, Washington, DC – The ATIS IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF) Quality of Service (QoS) Metrics Committee and the Video Services Forum (VSF) Quality of Experience (QoE) Activity Group have agreed to partner in order to define additional IP video performance metrics.

Materially, this signed agreement will enable more precise measurement of next-generation IP video services’ quality. Such measurements are important in that they quantify and benchmark user experiences, and enable ongoing trials to improve service quality. Both groups will meet regularly to further this work, allowing each organization to provide input and expertise on the QoE metrics development process. The result will be an acceleration and alignment of critical QoE elements and improvement of existing processes and metrics.

This joint undertaking convenes experts from service provider, content provider, and measurement vendor spaces. By leveraging this wide array of industry expertise, the partnership will expand on the IIF’s already detailed standards which quantify consumers’ experience vis-à-vis IPTV quality. This joint effort will also more precisely measure how specific IP transport mechanisms impact video quality. The partnership is expected to generate its first performance metrics in 2010.

“In order to ensure this market’s continued growth, the industry must work together to guarantee users enjoy a seamless IPTV experience,” said ATIS President and CEO Susan Miller. “The IIF and VSF’s partnership underscores ATIS’ commitment to enabling high-quality IPTV experiences, and sets the foundation for next generation television services.”

“QoE is an essential aspect of any video service,” adds VSF President Derek Smith. “The metrics developed as part of this joint work will not only enable test equipment vendors to provide a well-defined common set of QoE metrics, but they will also allow IPTV service providers to get a better understanding of possible quality issues with their video streams.”

About ATIS
ATIS is the leading technical planning and standards development organization committed to the rapid development of global, market-driven standards for the information, entertainment and communications industry. More than 250 companies actively formulate standards in ATIS’ 18 Committees, covering issues including: IPTV, Service Oriented Networks, Energy Efficiency, IP-Based and Wireless Technologies, Quality of Service, Billing and Operational Support. In addition, numerous Incubators, Focus and Exploratory Groups address emerging industry priorities including “Green”, IP Downloadable Security, Next Generation Carrier Interconnect, IPv6 and Convergence.

ATIS is the North American Organizational Partner for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a member and major U.S. contributor to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio and Telecommunications’ Sectors, and a member of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL). For more information, please visit www.atis.org.

About the Video Services Forum
Video Services Forum, Inc. (VSF) is an international association composed of service providers, users and manufacturers dedicated to interoperability, quality metrics and education for video networking technologies. The organization's activities include:

• Providing forums to identify issues involving the development, engineering, installation, testing and maintenance of video networking technologies.
• Exchanging non-proprietary information to promote the development of video networking technology and foster resolution of issues common to the video services industry.
• Promoting interoperability by contributing to and supporting development of standards by national and international standards bodies. For more information, please visit www.videoservicesforum.org.