Aug 26, 2011 15:21 GMT  ·  By

AuthenTec, a provider of security and identity management solutions, has teamed up with Harmonic Inc. to announce the joint development of DRM solutions that work seamlessly with Harmonic video encoders to enable streaming of PlayReady multimedia content on Apple’s iPhone and iPad.

Via a combined hardware and software solution, content providers and distributors can protect and deliver live streaming and on-demand video content directly to their users whether they own an iPhone, iPad, or even an Android device.

“With the proven encryption key technology of AuthenTec’s DRM Fusion offerings working in concert with our family of encoders, customers can encrypt live video on the fly and play it back smoothly on the appropriate end user device,” said Thierry Fautier, senior director, Convergence Solutions at Harmonic Inc.

“AuthenTec ensures end-to-end content protection so that carriers and content providers can focus on delivering compelling programming while AuthenTec encryption ensures their content is protected and delivered for live playback on a tablet or mobile phone.”

According to AuthenTec, the solution works by sending live content to a Harmonic video encoder, at which point a request is sent to an AuthenTec-enabled DRM server for encryption keys.

Video is then encoded and encrypted in PlayReady format.

From there on, authorized end users receive the video on a tablet or smartphone equipped with an AuthenTec DRM agent.

Available immediately, the complete solution is available now from authentec.com. The hardware will be demonstrated at Stand #1.B20, Hall1 at IBC2011 to be held at RAI Amsterdam from September 9-13.

Commenting on their new release, Dr. Simon Blake-Wilson, vice president of AuthenTec Embedded Security Solutions, said: “Harmonic and AuthenTec worked closely together to solve the problem of delivering content to mobile device users viewing live programming.”

“Through the joint offering, content providers can apply carrier-grade PlayReady protection to content on the fly, delivering on the promise of bringing sports and other live programs to mobile phone and tablet users as the action unfolds. This is another of the many offerings AuthenTec provides to enhance mobile security and user identity,” added Wilson.