Mike LaJoie
Mike LaJoie is chief technology officer of Time Warner Cable.
Time Warner Cable keeps launching new services. What’s been the key to this kind of innovation?
Innovation is part of Time Warner Cable’s culture and has been for a long time. We foster innovation throughout the company and put forth a deliberate effort to build on our foundation of a flexible and extendable platform to provide our customers with innovative products that they find useful.
Did the Mystro project and related Interactive Services Architecture (ISA) act as a kind of catalyst?
Yes, Mystro has provided us the opportunity to add many of the interactive features we offer today, and the ISA in the late ’90s provided the groundwork for VOD and Video Switching technology, and they support many of our latest innovations including Start Over, Quick Clips and switched digital video.
What are the biggest technical challenges in the voice business, going forward?
I don’t think there are challenges, but product opportunities. I think integration is the biggest opportunity. The integration of our voice product with our video and data provides great opportunity to continue offering new innovative services such as Caller ID on TV.
How are you preparing for the separable security deadline?
Our entire organization is working diligently to meet the deadline.
What’s next for your high-speed data platform? (IMS? DOCSIS 3.0?)
We continue to explore the emerging technologies and examine what opportunities they may provide us. Based on our HFC architecture, we are well prepared to do whatever is necessary to continue satisfying customer demand. We believe platform convergence is going to provide many new features and uses for our high-speed offerings.
How do you assess the current business services opportunity?
Rich. Very Rich.
What will you be looking to see at the Consumer Electronics Show?
We are always excited to see the latest in innovation. We are always looking to provide our customers with new products and services that interest them and meet their entertainment and information needs.