Of interest:
WebTV Eyes Business Applications
(07/02/97; 2 p.m. EDT)
By Heather Clancy, Computer Reseller News
WebTV Networks Inc., ahead of its proposed merger with Microsoft
Corp., is evaluating business applications for its television set-top
Internet-access device.
"We have lots of inquiries from people who view this as a low-cost,
terminal-based information distribution device," said William Herman,
vice president of marketing for the Palo Alto, Calif.-based developer.
He said resource constraints have precluded the company from
focusing on the business market thus far.
This could change in the near future. While Herman declined to
discuss specifics of the pending Microsoft merger, anticipated to
close this summer, he acknowledged Microsoft's resources could
help advance the business applications for WebTV.
For example, the device, which carries a price of approximately
$250, could be used by field personnel of companies that do not
work in any sort of office to access a corporate Internet or intranet
account. In addition, the device's smart-card slot could be used to
provide certain accounts with access to privileged information or
transaction sites, Herman said.
Although the company's Internet-access service network now works
over analog phone lines, the company is studying delivery alternatives
via cable and satellite.
In addition, WebTV is working with Sun Microsystems Inc.'s
JavaSoft on APIs dubbed "Java for TV." The software will be used
to let TV-based Internet browsers run certain features of Java. No
public release time frame is set for Java for TV, but JavaSoft will
license the software to WebTV and other set-top box makers. |
