Microsoft said today at NXTcomm it is releasing a new upgrade of its Internet
Protocol television (IPTV) software and rebranding the platform as Mediaroom.
The new Mediaroom platform features in-home personal
music and photo sharing, allowing consumers to listen to music and view
photographs stored on their computers on television screens. The upgrade also
includes dynamic MultiView (multiple picture-in-picture) capabilities,
Multimedia Application Environment for development of interactive services and
advanced applications and digital terrestrial television (DTT) support.
The company also introduced the Microsoft Mediaroom Application Development
toolkit, which provides service providers and third-party developers with
tools to create revenue-generating, TV-based applications that run on the
platform.
“Microsoft is committed to providing our IPTV customers with the very best
software platform so they can take full advantage of their intelligent,
two-way IP networks, and begin deploying richer and more personalized TV and
connected entertainment experiences,” Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice
president of the Microsoft TV, said in a statement.
The rebranding is designed to use the company’s name as a competitive edge in
the increasingly crowded IPTV platform arena. Heckart said the name will
better reflect the broader set of new connected entertainment experiences made
possible by IPTV.
In addition, the Microsoft Mediaroom name and identity are designed to create
a “powerful competitive differentiator” for service providers.
“In the highly competitive television market, a well-regarded brand can be a
very strong asset,” Christine Heckart, general manager of worldwide marketing
for Microsoft TV, said in a statement.
“By leveraging Microsoft Mediaroom as
an ingredient brand, service providers can take advantage of the worldwide
awareness, positive attributes and consumer preference for Microsoft-based
solutions.”
The launch of also marks the general availability of DTT capabilities on the
platform, allowing service providers in regions with DTT programming to offer
fully integrated IPTV services.
Microsoft said “more than 18” service providers have selected Mediaroom for
their digital TV offerings and commercial deployments are under way with 10 of
the providers.
“With personal media sharing and new application development capabilities,
Microsoft Mediaroom brings the consumer television experience to a new level,
enabling the best
in TV, plus access to all your media in one place,” Rodriguez said.
Also Monday, the Associated Press reported Microsoft is making a $12 million
investment for a 1 percent share of Chinese electronics maker Changhong.
