Espial(R) Awarded $1.5M Initial Order for Major European IPTV Deployment

    OTTAWA, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Espial(R) Group Inc. (TSX:
 ESP), a leading provider of IPTV middleware and applications, today
 announced that one of the largest providers of triple play services in
 Europe, with over 1.5 million subscribers, has placed an initial order of
 approximately $1.5M USD for Espial's Evo(R) IPTV Service Platform as part
 of a larger turn-key contract through a channel partner. The innovative
 hybrid cable-IPTV service is scheduled for deployment next year, during
 which the majority of contract revenues will be recognized. The operator,
 which wishes to keep its IPTV plans confidential until service launch for
 competitive reasons, executed the contract with Espial after six months of
 testing, verification, and planning, and after evaluating many other major
 IPTV middleware platforms.
     The operator selected Evo IPTV based on its ability to meet a rigorous
 list of requirements. These requirements included a fast, intuitive and
 highly customizable user interface that provides a superior quality of
 experience for subscribers; a modular and open middleware architecture that
 allows integration with the existing ecosystem and the ability to support
 important standards such as DVB-C, hybrid IPTV-cable EPG data transmission
 and EuroDOCSIS compatible modems; and an applications platform that
 provides fast and flexible service creation for the operator.
     Standards-based support was one of the important criteria considered.
 Espial's Evo IPTV Service Platform aligns closely with emerging ITU and DVB
 standards. It provides a true separation between its interactive
 applications platform and the presentation layer; leverages
 readily-available skill-sets such as HTML, JavaScript and Flash for service
 creation; allows modular development and management between server-side and
 client-side applications and ecosystems; and has a defined communications
 protocol for operators that wish to upgrade to SIP and IMS standards in the
 future.
     Espial's flagship Evo IPTV Service Platform, which includes the
 carrier-grade Evo Server, fast and intuitive Evo Client middleware,
 standards-based and extensible Evo Future-Proof Framework(TM), and various
 applications including Evo EPG, Evo VOD, Evo Browser, and Evo DVR, was
 designed as a better performing, more modular, scalable, and cost-effective
 alternative to other more monolithic solutions on the market today.
     "We have been committed from the beginning to building an interactive
 services platform that would adopt the rules of the internet age without
 sacrificing performance, open standards, scalability, or cost- all
 mandatory requirements for operators looking for a next-generation IPTV
 service platform," said Jaison Dolvane, Espial's President and CEO. "This
 contract award demonstrates the strength and maturity of our Evo IPTV
 Service Platform and growing applications suite."
     Espial has licensed over 1.3 million units of its Evo IPTV software to
 operators around the globe and has enjoyed mounting honors by industry
 press and analysts. In a recent report by market research firm iLocus,
 Espial's Evo was ranked third, with 8.2% of total IPTV subscribers using
 its middleware software at the end of the second quarter of 2007. Over the
 past year Evo was also awarded "Product of the Year" by technology media
 publisher TMC, named the "#1 IPTV Client Middleware" by analyst firm ABI,
 and rated a "Top Five IPTV Middleware Vendor" by Dittberner Associates. In
 addition, Espial received special recognition by Frost & Sullivan for being
 the "Most Entrepreneurial IPTV Company."
     ABOUT ESPIAL (www.espial.com)
     Espial provides IPTV middleware and applications that enable superior
 quality of experience, fast application performance, carrier-grade
 scalability, and open extensibility, all at a lower total cost of
 ownership. Espial's Evo(R) IPTV Service Platform, which can be purchased as
 modular components or as part of a pre-integrated client-server solution,
 includes Evo Client, Evo Server, Evo Browser, Evo BML Browser, Evo
 Future-Proof Framework (TM) (FPF), Evo SkinTones(TM) and applications such
 as Electronic Program Guide, Video on Demand, Digital Video Recorder,
 Content Portal, Games, and Triple Play.
     Forward Looking Statements
     --------------------------
     Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking
 statements", which reflect management's expectations. All statements other
 than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are
 forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve risks
 and uncertainties, as they reflect management's current beliefs and are
 based on information currently available to management. Actual results may
 differ materially from those anticipated in the statements made. The
 forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by
 this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements are made as of
 the date of this press release and Espial assumes no obligation to update
 or revise them to reflect press events or circumstances except as expressly
 required by applicable securities law. Further information regarding the
 uncertainties and risks can be found in the disclosure documents filed by
 Espial with the securities regulatory authorities, available at
 www.sedar.com.
 
 

SOURCE Espial Group