NCI does have something come out for real!
Network Computer, Inc.'s Software Platform to Power World's First Home Banking Service From a Set-Top Box
Belgacom Selects NCI Technology for Belgacom 'CyberTV' Service
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- At Belgacom's ''CyberTV'' launch today, Network Computer, Inc. (NCI) and Belgacom announced the world's first home banking service from a set-top box. Belgacom chose NCI's TV Navigator and Custom Connect Server software as the enabling technology for the new interactive online service platform that will provide an end-to-end solution for Belgacom to create, customize and manage its Belgacom CyberTV service. Belgacom CyberTV is available to trial customers today and commercially to their 4.8 million fixed line customers in January, 1999. As shown for the first time today, Belgacom CyberTV will enable new home banking applications offered through KBC Bank & Insurance, Belgium's leading financial institution.
From a set-top box connected to a telephone line and television set, Belgacom CyberTV will offer an easy-to-use service for accessing information and enhancing television content. Belgacom CyberTV home banking will enable users to conduct basic account transactions including payments, fund transfers and account management. To securely access the home banking service and conduct digital commerce, Belgacom CyberTV will provide customers with smart cards which interface with the set-top box. In addition, Belgacom CyberTV will enhance the television experience with electronic programming guides, TV chat, electronic mail, Web browsing and other applications.
To create and manage the Belgacom CyberTV service, Belgacom will use NCI's TV Navigator client and Custom Connect Server software. TV Navigator allows Belgacom to leverage its existing branding and content to create a customized user interface for its customers. Requiring less than four megabytes of memory on the set-top box, TV Navigator scales and displays any Internet content on a television and displays the Web and television simultaneously.
NCI's Custom Connect Server will provide registration and day-to-day management for the network of set-top boxes. As Belgacom CyberTV grows to support Belgacom's nearly 5 million fixed line customers, Custom Connect Server will scale to support the growing subscriber base. The entire software solution is based on open Internet standards and will fit within Belgacom's existing network, ensuring compatibility with applications or content written in standard HTML and JavaScript, including content from Belgacom's banking partners.
''Today's announcement with Belgacom solidifies NCI's leadership role in the European Internet-television market,'' said David Roux CEO of NCI. ''By adding home banking services to NCI's TV Navigator platform, Belgacom enables a new breed of interactive services through information appliances connected to a television.''
''Belgacom is pleased to be using NCI's enabling technology for our Belgacom CyberTV service,'' said Pascal Methens, General Manager Multimedia & Info Highways of Belgacom. ''NCI's software platform is one of the few technologies that could both accommodate our on-line home banking service and help us be a leading architect in this fast growing Internet market in Belgium.''
Belgacom plans to offer the service to 300 selected customers in September. Following the initial deployment, Belgacom will deploy the service in January, 1999 to its entire customer base.
Belgacom SA, headquartered in Brussels is the national telecommunications carrier in Belgium. The Belgacom Group principally provides local, long distance and international telephone service, GSM cellular telephone service, paging, satellite and leased line services. Belgacom is involved actively in multimedia, including providing Internet access through Belgacom Skynet and developing new Internet services and content.
NCI is an affiliate of Oracle Corp. [Nasdaq:ORCL - news] and Netscape Communications and is the leading provider of information appliance software. Since 1996 NCI has brought its technology to homes, schools and businesses through its strategic worldwide alliances. NCI is based in Redwood Shores, California, and can be reached at 650-631-4600. NCI's web site is nc.com.
Trademarks
TV Navigator and NCI are trademarks of Network Computer, Inc. All other trademarks are used for identification purposes and may be the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Network Computer, Inc.
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