In step with its expansion to a variety of platforms in Europe, chello broadband nv signed a deal this week
with Microsoft Corp. in which chello
will use Windows Media
streaming technology on
its broadband network in Sweden.
Under terms of the agreement, visitors to Sweden’s Chello portal can access streaming movies,
video and music for downloading. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Chello will conduct a test of the Windows services for a month before
deciding whether to permanently expand the technology
throughout chello’s European network.
“The point is to have a feeling of a multimedia festival where exciting
things happen all the time. Since Sweden is one of the hottest Internet
markets its logical to have a world wide premier and testing of this portal
concept in Sweden,” said Jon Dissen, country director for chello broadband
Scandinavia.
Chello operates the Internet division of cable network StjarnTV in Sweden, one of the
largest operators in Stockholm area. So far chello has a reach of about
150,000 households to provide high-speed Internet access at a flat rate.
Chello and StjarnTV is owned by UPC, a provider of cable television,
telephony, high-speed Internet access and
programming services in 12 countries across Europe and in Israel, as well as
satellite service in Australia. Microsoft (MSFT)
has a 7 percent stake in UPC.
In a related story, chello announced Friday that it will expand its delivery
of services to multiple platforms including DSL, wireless and Direct To Home
(DTH) technology.