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To: Daniel Schuh who wrote (16043)	1/13/1998 12:05:00 PM
From: Daniel Schuh	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24154

MS pact bigger of two TCI deals news.com Could be, hard to read this one. Malone may be overplaying his hand here. Still, Microsoft shouldn't spend too much time congratulating itself. The difference between a Web page and a software application is shrinking, according to Baker, meaning that programs are more often available directly as a part of a Web site, not as a proprietary application. Enter Sun and Java: Unlike most Microsoft software, Java applets are downloaded via a Web browser. Such trends are decreasing the importance of writing directly to an operating system because Internet content is largely standards-based, and the hardware used by digital set-top boxes will include other standardized technology such as MPEG-2 for the playback of video, which is not pegged on Microsoft technology. Well, that's all sort of old news. Microsoft can still hope to gain a piece of transactions that take place between the set-top box user and the outside world, but its ability to impose conditions on the cable industry is--so far--less certain than in the PC industry. "To the extent that cable companies can impose standards, that limits Microsoft's ability to control the transaction. If protocols are all set for the platform, it's going to be difficult for Microsoft to emerge as a dominant player," said Baker. The cable companies agree, and are working on the OpenCable initiative, which is attempting to set specifications for what digital set-top boxes can do and how they will interoperate with the cable company's computer equipment. The greater imperative for the cable companies is making different kinds of software available to end-users, which minimizes the importance of a single, monolithic OS, says Don Dulchinos, director of business development for CableLabs. Dulchinos is head of the OpenCable project. Dulchinos notes that TCI isn't setting a de facto standard by beginning work with Microsoft, Sun, and other companies. All technology suppliers will have to have CableLabs certify that their equipment is interoperable based on a platform specification available in mid-1998. Will Microsoft be able to "embrace and demolish" the infant cable standards body? Could happen, but I imagine there are plenty of suspicious minds and disciples of Andy Grove around the Cable Labs. It may take a while to find out, anyway: Consumers shouldn't hold their breath for the new devices, however. While Microsoft and TCI expect that they will begin to deploy digital set-top devices in late 1998 or early 1999, retail availability of such devices is not expected for another three to five years, according to analysts. Sheesh. Whatever happened to Internet time? Or does nobody care about retail anyway? Cheers, Dan.