WIND--UPC to use Liberate, Wind River software
AMSTERDAM, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Cable operator UPC (NasdaqNM:UPCOY - news) said on Thursday set-top boxes being launched in the Netherlands would in the future use software from Liberate (NasdaqNM:LBRT - news) and Wind River Systems (NasdaqNM:WIND - news) as well as from Microsoft (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news).
Earlier this year, United Pan-Europe Communications NV (UPC) was forced to delay the launch of digital interactive TV with e-mail, Internet, e-commerce and video-on-demand after Microsoft failed to deliver its software on time.
Dutch-based UPC, which offers telephony, Internet and television on its cable network, said it planned to launch 30,000 set-top boxes made by Philips Electronics and Motorola (NYSE:MOT - news) in Amsterdam by the end of the year.
Initially the boxes will offer digital television, near video-on-demand and an electronic programme guide. Following a remote software upgrade planned for early next year, services will be expanded to include e-mail and Internet services.
The future generations of software will include Wind River's VxWorks operating system and associated middleware from Liberate next to Microsoft's WinCE and MSTV products, UPC said.
Europe's largest cable operator in terms of number of customers, UPC is 51 percent owned by UnitedGlobalCom (NasdaqNM:UCOMA - news). Microsoft Corp (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) owns eight percent of UPC's shares. |
