Tuesday, November 6, 2007

5 Years Later, Microsoft IPTV Coming to India

At a press event in Mumbai, India today, Microsoft announced a partnership with India's Reliance Communications Ltd. to bring IPTV service to the country by March 2008.

Microsoft Corp. and Reliance Infocomm Ltd. today announced that the two companies plan to work together to jointly create, test and deliver next-generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based television services using an upcoming IPTV solution being developed by Microsoft® TV. This new technology is designed to enable Reliance Infocomm to leverage its nationwide high-speed infrastructure to deliver a unique set of next-generation television services that take full advantage of its state-of-the-art network. The new relationship also will enable the companies to test the benefits to Indian households of leading Microsoft technologies such as Windows Media® 9 Series, Microsoft .NET and Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

"We are happy to be working with Microsoft to create and test a solution that will help Reliance Infocomm offer our customers a variety of services for a rich TV experience," said Amit Khanna, official spokesperson, Reliance Infocomm. "This understanding highlights the strategic relationship between Reliance Infocomm and Microsoft to provide next-generation broadcast TV and video-on-demand services to our Indian consumers."

"Microsoft TV's IPTV solution allows Reliance Infocomm to maximize the value of its network," said Moshe Lichtman, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV Division. "Reliance Infocomm has the strategic vision to look to the future and next-generation TV services. Reliance Infocomm clearly recognizes the value that software can add to the IPTV and advanced video services market, and we are pleased to kick off our new IPTV efforts by announcing this alliance with one of India's largest private-sector enterprises."

Source- Microsoft Press release

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