Platform Enhancements and New Partner Products Propel Momentum
In Rapidly Growing IP Set-Top Box Industry
LAS VEGAS, April 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Today at NAB2003, the National Association of Broadcasters convention,
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced that the forthcoming release of
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE .NET version 4.2 will include the latest Windows
Media(R) 9 Series, which offers the same video quality in one-third the bit
rate of MPEG-2 and one-half the bit rate of MPEG-4 over Internet Protocol (IP)
networks, Internet Explorer 6.0, with special support for a richer television
Web browsing experience. The company also announced that top silicon vendors
ATI Technologies Inc., National Semiconductor Corp., STMicroelectronics and
VIA Technologies Inc., and leading set-top box software vendors iMagicTV and
Stellar One Corp. will optimize their solutions for the Windows CE .NET
operating system. In addition, set-top box original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs) CosTron Co. Ltd., HUMAX Co. Ltd., NEC Corp. and Tcom&DTVro Co. Ltd are
currently building set-top boxes powered by Windows CE NET.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"IP-based set-top boxes are emerging as a key delivery platform for
multiple service operators (MSOs) that are eager to offer television and
interactive content services to homes around the globe," said Keith White,
senior director of marketing of the Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group at
Microsoft. "Windows CE .NET 4.2 delivers a robust real-time operating system
platform to enable the delivery of high-quality video services and Web
capabilities. And MSOs can now choose from a broad range of hardware and
software providers to help them develop new offerings that are feature-rich
and cost-effective, and can be deployed quickly."
Windows CE. NET
With the release of Windows CE .NET 4.2 in the second quarter of 2003,
Microsoft will provide enhanced technologies that enable its industry partners
to build richer media and content solutions that include the following:
-- Windows Media Audio and Video 9 Series provides enhanced compression
that enables full-screen streaming video over existing networks.
-- Internet Explorer 6.0 and enhancements for set-top boxes enable easy
navigation with remote controls, Windows Messenger and
Microsoft Passport.
-- Digital Rights Management 7.1 provides infrastructure for content
protection.
-- Extensive multimedia format support is included: Formats including
MPEG-1, MPEG-4 and MP3 are supported in the operating system, enabling
OEMs to build devices for a broad range of formats.
Partner Ecosystem
Building on the rich capabilities of Windows CE .NET 4.2, a growing number
of industry partners can now deliver innovative software and hardware
solutions, including these:
-- CosTron used Windows CE .NET 4.2 to create the CS 300, the most
advanced set-top box in its class, with video-on-demand streaming,
Internet Explorer 6.0, MSN(R) Messenger chat, digital rights management
(DRM) and Internet shopping.
-- HUMAX is building an advanced set-top box optimized for IP multicast
broadcast television. Applications will include video on demand, Web
surfing, e-mail and games, high-end Web browser applications, and an
electronic programming guide.
-- iMagicTV offers a software platform to enable on-demand and broadcast
content on multiple devices. This solution includes support for
digital-broadcast television and pay-per-view with an interactive
programming guide, video on demand and network digital video recorder.
-- NEC, a leading Japanese manufacturer of set-top boxes, will deploy
set-top boxes based on Windows CE .NET that include streaming video,
residential gateway and personal video recorder capabilities.
-- Stellar One is now shipping StellarTV Client 4 on Windows CE .NET for
the delivery of digital television and on-demand services over IP
broadband networks. StellarTV Client 4 software benefits service
providers and set-top box manufacturers with cost-effective
interoperability.
-- Tcom&DTVro is shipping one of the most advanced IP TV set-top boxes
based on Windows CE .NET. Boxes include capabilities such as video on
demand, games, video phone, voice over IP (VoIP), Web browsing, e-mail,
electronic programming guides, and picture-in-picture and
picture-in-graphic functionalities. The company is building Windows CE
.NET-based high-end set-top boxes with home gateway functionality as
well.
In addition, leading silicon vendors ATI, National Semiconductor, ST
Microelectronics and Via are optimizing on their CPUs to deliver
cost-effective and flexible solutions for industry partners building on
Windows CE .NET 4.2.
"CosTron has been able to develop a rich, multimedia IP-based set-top box
using Windows CE .NET 4.2 very quickly," said Jin Kwon Kim, lead software
engineer at CosTron. "When compared to alternatives such as Linux, Windows CE
.NET has many advantages. The biggest for CosTron was that Windows CE .NET
allows our developers to focus on the product and not on learning how to use
tools."
About the Microsoft Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group
Microsoft Windows Embedded operating systems and tools provide
comprehensive software platforms for building the next generation of
intelligent, 32-bit connected Windows Powered devices that demand rich
applications and Internet services for a wide range of flexible solutions. In
addition, Microsoft offers a wide range of programs and services designed to
meet the specific needs of Windows Embedded customers, industry partners and
developers. The Windows Embedded operating systems currently include Windows
CE and Windows XP Embedded. The Server Appliance Kit for Windows 2000 helps
OEMs build Windows Powered server appliances, including Network Attached
Storage (NAS) and Web servers. Windows CE was honored at the 2003
International Consumer Electronics Show for innovations in the category of
Software/Embedded Technologies. The Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group
also delivers the Windows CE for Smart Displays software technology that
powers a wide range of Smart Displays to extend the Windows XP experience to
any room in the home. Currently in development is "Media2Go," which is the
code name for a new device platform for powering the next generation of
portable media player devices that enable consumers to enjoy their videos,
music and pictures on the go.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
NOTE: Microsoft, Windows, Windows Media and MSN are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other
countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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