Alcatel and Microsoft Team Up for IP Television

HostReview.com
Tuesday, February 22, 2005; 01:24 PM

Alcatel (www.alcatel.com) and Microsoft Corp. (www.microsoft.com) today announced a global collaboration agreement designed to rapidly accelerate the availability of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services for broadband operators worldwide.

"We are excited to collaborate with Microsoft and benefit from its leadership in TV software delivery platforms and innovative consumer experiences delivered across devices in the multimedia-connected home," said Serge Tchuruk, chairman and chief executive officer of Alcatel.

Alcatel and Microsoft expect that this precedent-setting agreement between a leading provider of Triple Play (voice, data, video) solutions and a leading provider of software solutions will help expand the quickly-growing ecosystem of IPTV industry partners and enable telecommunication providers to take advantage of global economies of scale fueled by large-scale IPTV deployments planned across the globe.

As a result of this agreement, Alcatel and Microsoft will develop an integrated IPTV delivery solution. The integrated solution builds upon Alcatel's leadership in broadband, IP networking, development, and integration of end-to-end multimedia and video solutions, and Microsoft's leadership in TV software solutions and connected-entertainment experiences across consumer devices.

Alcatel and Microsoft believe that consumers around the world can benefit from receiving unique, personalized services through multiple devices, including the television.

On-demand video streaming applications, interactive TV, video and voice communications, photo, music and home video sharing, and online gaming, all delivered seamlessly, are just a few examples of the services that consumers could receive through their multimedia-connected home networks.

The Microsoft TV platform is a family of software solutions that help network operators create and deliver new digital TV services that delight consumers.