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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jim kelley who wrote (35199)	12/8/1999 5:41:00 AM
From: puborectalis	Respond to of 74651

Microsoft pushing headlong into digital Media market PALO ALTO, Calif. (Reuters) - Chairman and Chief Executive Bill Gates highlighted on Tuesday Microsoft's plans to push aggressively into the market for digital audio and video sent over the Internet, but it still has a long way to go to catch the leader, Real Networks Inc. ''We're investing very heavily'' in digital audio and video, Gates told an industry conference in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, calling it one of the fastest moving parts of the Internet. Gates also unveiled a raft of announcements with consumer electronics companies and others that boast the technology. Saying that 91 percent of Windows 98 users are online and spend about 40 hours a month surfing the Web, Gates told the attendees that ''digital media is defining a new generation.'' Microsoft's (MSFT.O) Media Player software program is gaining in popularity, but lags far behind the industry leader, the RealPlayer from Seattle-based Real Networks (RNWK.O), according to researcher Nielsen//NetRatings. In October, Nielsen//NetRatings said that Real Player outpaced Media Player by 10 to 1 and bested Apple Computer Inc.'s digital media player Quicktime by about four to one. Real Networks also said on Tuesday that it has topped 7 million downloads of the latest test version of Real Player. Gates, during his speech, demonstrated several new devices that used Microsoft technologies, including its stripped-down Windows CE operating system used in digital set top boxes and other smaller, non-PC devices. He showed off a radio player from Sonicbox Inc., which lets a user listen to music stored on a PC from any standard radio in the home. He also touted a portable music player called the RCA Lyra from Thomson Multimedia and a set-top box from General Instrument Corp., which Gates said was the first such device to play digital audio and video. ''I don't see anything holding back this industry,'' Gates said. He also said that wireless networking in the home -- tying together many devices -- will take off in the next two years. Gates also unveiled a broadband section of its WindowsMedia Web site, where it offers video and other digital media to users with high-speed Internet access, such as a cable modem or DSL service. Gates also showed off its ''Windows Movie Maker,'' which will come with the next version of Windows for consumers when it is delivered next year. The program lets users create and edit their own home movies recorded with digital cameras. ''These are the early years,'' Gates said of digital media sent via the Web. Wednesday December 8, 5:38 am Eastern Time Microsoft offers software to power Web phones NEW YORK, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) on Wednesday unveiled Microsoft Mobile Explorer, the software giant's open software designed to power Internet-enabled mobile telephones. Microsoft Mobile Explorer enables handset manufacturers and wireless carriers to provide their customers with services on data-enabled telephones and ''smart phones.'' Components of the Microsoft Mobile Explorer suite of products will be delivered throughout next year beginning with an initial release of Microsoft Mobile Explorer for feature phones in the first quarter of 2000, Microsoft said. The software is currently being used in the United Kingdom and Norway by British Telecomunications Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BT.L), for corporate customer trials and is under evaluation for current and future networks by Korea Telecom Freetel Co Ltd and DeTeMobil Deutsche Telekom MobilNet GmbH , Microsoft said.