Philadelphia, PA and Redmond, WA--Comcast Cable and Microsoft have announced an agreement that extends their existing relationship and gives Comcast the ability to make Microsoft TV Foundation Edition 1.7 software available to up to five million customers, with the option to expand the rollout at a later date.
Foundation Edition is designed to work across a range of set-top boxes, from the tens of millions of set-tops that multiple service operators (MSOs) have in place today to the ongoing deployment of advanced set-tops that enable new services, including dual-tuner DVR, VOD, HDTV, and games. The software, among the first to support the dual-tuner DVR and HDTV capabilities in Motorola’s new DCT 6412 set-top, also helps viewers more easily use these services with a built-in interactive programming guide (IPG).
"We’re very impressed with the Microsoft software platform and its ability to enhance and promote video on demand, as well as its capability to launch other interactive services," said Steve Burke, president of Comcast Cable. "We’re excited about working closely with Microsoft to jointly define the digital TV experiences of the future and to continue bringing innovative services to our cable customers."
"Comcast continues to lead the industry in innovation and in the delivery of exciting services that bring new value to its subscribers," said Moshe Lichtman, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV division. "Comcast’s significant commitment to Microsoft TV Foundation is a very powerful stamp of approval. It is another sign that the industry wants cost-effective, scalable software platforms like Microsoft TV to deliver the services consumers want today as well as the future services that have yet to be invented."
Comcast
www.comcast.com
Microsoft TV
www.microsoft.com/tv
