Microsoft Corp. and BT announced BT's intention to use the Microsoft TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform to deliver TV over broadband in the United Kingdom. The announcement further strengthens Microsoft's continued commitment to working with the world's leading network operators to bring next-generation television services to consumers.

BT plans to trial TV over broadband services powered by Microsoft TV IPTV Edition in early 2006, with delivery of a commercial service expected to begin in the summer of 2006.

"BT continues to demonstrate its commitment to broadband in the U.K. through the development of a portfolio of innovative broadband services designed to deliver more and more value to our customers," said Gavin Patterson, group managing director of BT Retail. "BT and Microsoft share a common vision for converged entertainment in the home. TV over broadband services will play an important role in BT's triple-play offering for consumers. Our approach of over-the-air broadcast and broadband-delivered video-on-demand, interactivity and enhanced support is the perfect solution and complements existing TV propositions already in the U.K. market. The combination of Microsoft's best-in-class technology with BT's 21st-century network will result in an incredibly exciting set of next-generation entertainment and communication services available to consumers across the U.K."

"BT is a great example of one of the world's leading network operators choosing Microsoft TV as the software platform for its digital TV and converged entertainment services," said Moshe Lichtman, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV division at Microsoft. "We are very pleased to be working with such a well-respected and innovative operator as BT. Microsoft TV IPTV Edition will enable a full suite of integrated entertainment and communication services that will set the bar for what consumers will expect."

The award-winning Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform enables broadband network operators to deliver engaging, high-quality video content and services to their customers using their existing and next-generation broadband networks. The platform combines Microsoft and industry innovations to support cost-effective and security-enhanced delivery of the full set of today's pay-TV service offerings, including standard- and high-definition channels, on-demand programming, digital video recording, and interactive program guides. The platform also offers enhanced features including instant channel-changing and picture-in-picture functionality using multiple video streams. Unlike most conventional pay-TV delivery systems in consumer homes today, the Microsoft TV platform allows network operators to integrate the delivery of pay-TV services with other broadband services delivered to PCs, telephones, game consoles, mobile devices and other devices in the home using a common set of back-office and network systems.