More news after hours:
LOS ANGELES, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. <MSFT.O>
said on Thursday it was joining hands with three interactive
television companies to develop ways to deliver interactive
advertising and let people shop from their TV sets.
The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant would wrap the new
technologies into its Microsoft TV package that it hopes will
give it a foothold in the industry as broadcasters and network
operators start rolling out interactive services.
The partners are ACTV Inc. <IATV.O>, a New York-based firm
that enables Internet features to be melded with television
viewing; eCity, an interactive television services developer,
and RespondTV, a provider of services for interactive content.
"These agreements demonstrate the benefits of our efforts
to create a rich TV platform for software developers, enabling
highly profitable new TV applications that cable network
operators can easily deploy," Alan Yates, Microsoft TV vice
president of marketing, said in a statement.
The deals include plans for trials so the companies can
gather real-world data about how the services are used,
Microsoft said.
Thursday's news came a day after ACTV said Microsoft would
integrate its software-based technologies and services with
Microsoft's TV systems.
ACTV already has a deal with TBS Superstations to let
viewers of the network's wrestling shows get statistics and
biographies of the performers and chat with other viewers.
Respond's services enable TV network operators to deliver
information on programs or commercials and sell products and
services through the television.
ECity's software lets cable TV subscribers choose to view
advertisements and then buy the advertised products or get more
information about them.
Shares in Microsoft were pummeled on Thursday amid a broad
sell-off in technology stocks, a day after personal computer
maker Gateway Inc. <GTW.N> warned its fourth quarter earnings
would fall short of expectations due to slowholiday sales.
Microsoft stock fell $7-11/16, or nearly 12 percent, to
close at $57-3/8.
ACTV fell 7/16, or 6.1 percent, to close at $6-11/16.
REUTERS
Rtr 18:55 11-30-00
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