Tech Shout!

Boosting its award-winning Internet Protocol television (IPTV) software platform further, software giant Microsoft has released Microsoft Mediaroom, which is the latest addition to the company’s IPTV platform. The new launch, that took place on Sunday, packs in a number of new features, which include a number of multimedia abilities such as in-home personal music and photo sharing, dynamic MultiView (multiple picture-in-picture) capabilities, Multimedia Application Environment for development of interactive services and advanced applications, and digital terrestrial television (DTT) support.

And that’s not it. Microsoft also announced the availability of the Microsoft Mediaroom Application Development toolkit, through which offers service providers and third-party developers tools that will help them develop persuasive, revenue-generating TV-based applications that run on the platform.

The Microsoft Mediaroom platform can be seen in Microsoft Booth 3531 at NXTcomm, the new industry venue featuring the business and technology of communications, which takes off from June 19–21, 2007, at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Microsoft TV is essentially a program that helps broadband network operators deliver enhanced advanced digital TV services and new connected entertainment experiences to audiences worldwide.

Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV business at Microsoft said, “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.” Rodriguez added, “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.”

IPTV has become a common denominator for systems where television and/or video signals are distributed to subscribers or viewers using a broadband connection over Internet Protocol. Often this is in parallel with the subscriber’s Internet connection, supplied by a broadband operator using the same infrastructure but over a dedicated bandwidth allocation. Through its new launch Microsoft is rechristening its IPTV platform Microsoft Mediaroom to better reveal the wider set of new connected entertainment experiences developed today and the various types of experiences users can look forward to in the near in the future. What’s more, the Microsoft Mediaroom name and identity are made in such a way that they can be used by service providers as an ingredient brand to create a potent competitive differentiator to support their consumer marketing activities.

Adding to the current Microsoft IPTV features, which includes advanced digital video recording, video on demand, high-definition television and instant channel zapping, the Microsoft Mediaroom platform now puts forth the following:

Personal media sharing: With this function, users can easily listen to digital music and view digital photographs stored on PCs elsewhere in the home on the best screen in the house: the television.

Multimedia Application Environment: The environment offers richer support for Web services and applications, making it possible for service providers to install advanced features such as dynamic video-on-demand portals, casual games and interactive TV services.

Enhanced MultiView capabilities: These allow consumers to see multiple channels, programs and camera angles on one screen.

The launch of Microsoft Mediaroom also marks the general availability of DTT capabilities on the platform, allowing service providers in regions with DTT programming to offer fully integrated, seamless IPTV services.

“In the highly competitive television market, a well-regarded brand can be a very strong asset,” said Christine Heckart, general manager of worldwide marketing for Microsoft TV. “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 Microsoft Mediaroom platform has been chosen by over 180 of the world’s topmost service providers for their digital TV offerings. At present commercial deployments are in progress with 10 providers.

Over 18 of the world’s leading service providers have selected the Microsoft Mediaroom platform for their digital TV offerings, and commercial deployments are currently underway with 10 providers.