REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 13, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate availability of the Microsoft® Windows Media™ Player for Pocket PC Technology Preview Edition. For the first time, this new player delivers streamed wireless Windows Media-formatted audio and video to a portable device. The Technology Preview Edition gives owners of Pocket PC devices from Compaq Computer Corp., Casio Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) the ability to stream and download Windows Media video and audio content. The new technology, unveiled last night during Bill Gates’ keynote address at COMDEX/Fall 2000, underscores Microsoft’s commitment to enabling consumer access to digital media any time, any place and on any device.
“Consumers want their audio and video to be both mobile and delivered to them whenever they want,”
said Dave Fester, general manager of the Digital Media Division at Microsoft.
“By supporting wireless streaming, the new Windows Media Player for the Pocket PC is a major step forward in the development of Windows Media and helps realize our vision for digital media everywhere.”
Pocket PC owners now will be able to download or stream video such as news clips and music videos as well as music from the Web directly on their Pocket PC, and even play back home movies they have edited using Microsoft Windows® Movie Maker in Windows Millennium (Windows Me). Windows Media Player for Pocket PC Technology Preview Edition works with Microsoft Windows Media Services in Windows 2000 Server to enable wireless streaming solutions and is compatible with IRDA, serial and 802.3 Ethernet, as well as exciting new high-speed wireless networks including 802.11 wireless Ethernet (11 MB per second.). The new Windows Media Player for Pocket PC Technology Preview Edition will be highlighted in Microsoft’s booth at COMDEX, using a Metricom Ricochet wireless network and Sierra Wireless Aircard 400 modem to stream both audio and video to a Pocket PC. Users also can play back audio and video files (at rates from 16 Kbps to 256 Kbps) that have already been downloaded onto the Pocket PC.
Availability
The Windows Media Player for Pocket PC Technology Preview Edition is designed as a way for developers and advanced users to evaluate this new technology. It is now available for download with the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC. Other versions will be available for download in the next month for the HP Jornada and the Casio Cassiopeia Pocket PC models. Pocket PC owners can download the free* Windows Media Player Technology Preview Edition and find more information at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . The final version of the Windows Media Player for Pocket PC supporting streaming audio and video is scheduled to be available early next year.
About Windows Media
Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched audio and video quality to consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations. Windows Media offers the industry’s only integrated rights-management solution and the most scalable and reliable streaming technology tested by independent labs. Windows Media Technologies includes Windows Media Player for consumers, Windows Media Services for servers, Windows Media Tools for content creation, and the Windows Media Software Development Kit (SDK) for software and hardware developers. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is the fastest-growing media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ .
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.
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