TCI, Microsoft Finalize Licensing Agreement for Windows CE On Advanced Set-Top Terminals
ATLANTA, May 4, 1998 — Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) and Microsoft Corp. today announced that they entered into a definitive agreement, originally announced in January 1998, under which Microsoft will license a minimum of 5 million copies of the Microsoft® Windows® CE operating system and related software to TCI’s National Digital Television Center (NDTC) for TCI’s advanced digital set-top devices. The nonexclusive license agreement details the terms and conditions for delivery and deployment of the Microsoft software. TCI previously announced agreements to supply advanced digital set-top box hardware beginning in 1999, initially from General Instrument Corp.
The license agreement also enables any company that is a Head-End-In-The-Sky (HITS) customer in North America to license the same software from Microsoft under the same general terms and conditions when it deploys advanced digital set-top devices that subscribe to the NDTC Head-End-In-The-Sky (HITS) service distribution network.
Since the memorandum of understanding outlining the proposed development agreement and license commitment was signed in January, both parties have worked to specify the details of the system and complete terms and conditions for development and supply of the software. TCI and Microsoft have progressed in the initial engineering work and specifications to where they now can enter into the cooperative development stage for hardware and software for the project. The new version of Windows CE, specifically developed for use with TCI’s advanced digital cable set-top boxes, enables a wide variety of new TV content and services based on innovative support for Internet content, video and graphics.
Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) is traded through the TCI Group, the TCI Ventures Group and the Liberty Media Group common stocks. Series A and Series B TCI Group common stock (TCOMA/TCOMB); Series A and Series B TCI Ventures Group common stock (TCIVA/TCIVB); and Series A and Series B Liberty Media Group common stock (LBTYA/LBTYB) are traded on the National Market tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
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