Symbio has been selected by Microsoft as a Microsoft Mediaroom set-top box integration and testing partner. Symbio will provide software quality assurance and testing services for original equipment manufacturers to test new STB models for deployment by Mediaroom's clients, enabling enhanced user experiences, faster time-to-market, and more choices of STBs for service providers and consumers.

According to a recent Broadband and Digitally-Connected Home report by Lee Ratliff, senior analyst at iSuppli, the leading market research firm focused on the electronics value chain, global shipments of IPTV STBs are projected to grow to 28.7 million units in 2010, up 48 percent from 19.4 million in 2009. Shipments will also rise at a 25 percent compound annual growth rate from 2009 to 2014.

Microsoft Mediaroom is the world's most deployed IPTV platform, with a global customer base delivering services to more than five million subscriber households. Mediaroom is also enjoying increased deployments in emerging geographies and segments, where the business models can demand low-cost set-top boxes with high performance to ensure highly engaging user experiences.