NEW ORLEANS, May 6, 2002 — Today at Cable 2002, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) annual convention, Microsoft Corp. announced a new high-performance, feature-rich and easy-to-use interactive program guide (IPG) solution, the Microsoft® TV IPG. Designed for currently deployed thin-client set-top boxes, the Microsoft TV IPG enables network operators to offer a better consumer experience in navigating digital cable channels and services for both the Motorola DCT1000 and DCT2000 interactive digital set-top boxes. As a member of the Motorola Horizon Developer Program, the Microsoft TV IPG has been validated by the ACADIA Application Integration Center for the Motorola DCT2000 the most widely deployed digital set-top terminal in the world. The Microsoft TV IPG will be demonstrated in Microsoft booth No. 3647 and Motorola booth No. 1623.
Also at the show, Microsoft announced the latest upgrade to its advanced client software, Microsoft TV Advanced 2.0, which now includes integrated video on demand (VOD) and enhanced digital video recording (DVR) support, allowing network operators to more quickly and cost-effectively roll out advanced services to subscribers.
Built from the ground up for thin-client set-top boxes, the Microsoft TV IPG solution features an interactive program guide that improves consumers digital TV experience with speedy scrolling and channel tuning, making it faster, easier and more intuitive for users to find TV shows and customize their television viewing. Microsoft TV IPG leverages the network operators existing broadcast infrastructure through support of TV listings and interactive advertising, and was designed to be integrated with third-party VOD systems.
“The Microsoft TV IPG offers an impressive solution in terms of speed and navigation,”
said Carl McGrath, Motorola Broadband corporate vice president and general manager, digital consumer gateways.
“We believe that the commercial availability of highly efficient, cost-effective solutions such as the Microsoft TV IPG strongly supports the digital cable value equation for service providers. We congratulate Microsoft on its Horizon ACADIA validation.”
Since the DCT1000 was launched and became the worlds first mass-deployed digital set-top terminal, Motorola (formerly General Instrument) has shipped more than 20 million digital set-top boxes, including the DCT2000, the worlds most widely deployed digital set-top terminal. Given this widescale footprint, there was a clear need for an ultra-light, thin-client interactive TV (iTV) solution. Microsoft developed the Microsoft TV IPG to help network operators extend the value of these set-top boxes. Microsofts solution has one of the smallest memory footprints available on the market today for Motorola set-top terminals.
“With the Microsoft TV IPG, weve brought renewed energy, focus and breadth to the Microsoft TV platform,”
said Moshe Lichtman, vice president of the Microsoft TV Division at Microsoft.
“Weve been working closely with our customers to create software from which they can derive the most value, both in leveraging their current installed base of set-top boxes and as they begin to provide more advanced iTV services. With Microsoft TV Advanced and now the Microsoft TV IPG, we are providing deployable solutions that support the range of set-top boxes from the most basic digital boxes to the most advanced.”
The Microsoft TV IPG has earned Motorolas ACADIA validation for the DCT2000 and is undergoing testing for the DCT1000 series. ACADIA validation is used as a benchmark for broadband network operators as they choose the software, content and applications to deliver to their subscribers. The ACADIA Application Integration Center, a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola Broadband, is the supporting facility for the Horizon Developer Program. It provides resources and expertise to take applications and other software solutions from prototype to commercial deployment. ACADIA is an independent development and integration entity, with a staff completely dedicated to supporting Motorolas Horizon Developer Program.
The Microsoft TV IPG is downloadable to already deployed set-top boxes and includes a customizable user interface for branding, graphics and color schemes. It can be integrated with any TV listings provider. The Microsoft TV Server component provides head-end support for the set-top IPG features and is included with a client software deployment. The Microsoft TV IPG software will be available later this month to Microsoft TV customers.
The latest upgrade to Microsoft TV Advanced, version 2.0 now includes integrated support for VOD, enhanced DVR and communications services powered by the MSN® network of Internet services. It simplifies network operators ability to offer premium iTV and broadband services on the most advanced set-top boxes, enabled with broadband cable modem support or hard disk drives, or both.
About the Microsoft TV Platform
Microsoft TV is a family of standards-based, client and server software products that enables the delivery of iTV services through cable, terrestrial and satellite networks. The Microsoft TV platform supports a variety of TV devices including the full range of set-top boxes and allows network operators to provide new revenue-generating services including VOD, electronic program guides, DVR, enhanced programming, e-mail and more. More than 1,500 leading providers of services, programming, hardware and software for iTV have chosen to work with Microsoft TV. A leader in the iTV industry, Microsoft is deployed or in trial today with network operators in North and South America, Europe, and Israel. More information about Microsoft TV can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/tv/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) 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.
Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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