Panasonic has announced its end-to-end system for the Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP). This is the US' next-generation, interactive digital cable television standard. Panasonic has stated that its system is the first of its kind in the world.

Panasonic undertook the development of this new standard in collaboration with Comcast Cable, Time Warner Cable, Motorola, and Concurrent Computer. It exhibited prototypes at the recetnly concluded 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Panasonic has added that consumers will be able to buy digital cable-ready TVs. With the use of a Cablecard they will be able to receive digital services no matter which cable system in the country they subscribe to. Regardless of who the cable operator is or the service area, with an OCAP-compliant receiver, a user can receive a variety of interactive services, like advanced two-way programming such as Video on Demand, Electronic Programme Guide, home banking, and interactive games, along with other e-commerce applications.

OCAP is a standard that will be common to all cable systems that utilise it: an application that works with one cable provider in one area can also work with another cable operator in another area. All the consumer will have to do is take the Cablecard provided by their cable operator and plug it into the OCAP-compliant DTV set or set-top box.

Panasonic plans to start field trials of OCAP-compliant devices later this year. The goal is to launch OCAP-ready digital set-top boxes as a first step in order to promote the rollout of the OCAP technology.