Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Gemstar Intl (GMST) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: NY Stew who wrote (3681)	8/17/2000 2:30:36 PM
From: unclewest	Respond to of 6516

Thursday August 17, 1:42 pm Eastern Time Microsoft confirms TV software delay By Jana Sanchez AMSTERDAM, Aug 17 (Reuters) - U.S. software giant Microsoft confirmed on Thursday that its interactive TV software will not be ready for the planned October roll-out of Europe's largest cable operator United Pan-Europe Communications NV (NasdaqNM:UPCOY - news). ``The software (called Microsoft TV), is not at a level of stability we would want for an initial roll-out,'' Ed Graczyk, director of marketing for Microsoft TV told Reuters. UPC chairman Mark Schneider said on Tuesday that software from its eight percent shareholder Microsoft was not ready, but that the October launch of set-top boxes in Amsterdam would not be postponed. He said UPC would shop around for other software if Microsoft did not deliver on time. Schneider said UPC would also test software from Microsoft competitors OpenTV, Liberate(NasdaqNM:LBRT - news) and proprietary software developed by AtHome Corporation(NasdaqNM:ATHM - news). The UPC launch of set-top boxes will go ahead with simpler software, but more complex software offering more interactive capabilities can be downloaded onto the boxes via the network early next year. Microsoft TV has orders from cable operators for software for 15 million set-top boxes, Graczyk said. An order placed by Portugal's TV Cabo, in which Microsoft also has a stake, would be delivered on time for a 2001 deployment, he said. ``I believe we will be able to go forward as planned with TV Cabo.'' Microsoft has numerous investments in cable companies worldwide, which competitors in the past have said was part of a strategy to buy a piece of the market for interactive TV software. ``While significant investments get us a seat at the table, at the end of the day, our software is chosen on the merits...UPC is proof of that,'' Graczyk said.