Microsoft’s TV division has announced plans to develop a new IP video delivery system for existing broadband networks. The initiative will support a full range of pay-TV services while scaling to millions of TV subscribers.
Planned features include instant channel changing, multimedia programming guides with integrated video, and multiple picture-in-picture capability on standard television sets. High-definition television, next-generation digital video recording and video-on-demand (VOD) functionality also will be supported.
Microsoft’s system will integrate its Windows Media 9 Series codec technology, which supports live and on-demand services in SD and HD formats. The system will also support the range of Windows Embedded operating systems for IPTV set-top boxes, including Windows CE .NET.
Microsoft said it will work with Bell Canada to test and deploy television services based on the new IP television technology. With Bell ExpressVu digital programming, Bell Canada plans to be the first telecommunications company in Canada to trial the delivery of services over an IP broadband network.
For more information, visit: www.microsoft.com.
