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Technology Stocks : General Instrument Corp.'98 (GIC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John F. Dowd who wrote (225)	4/6/1998 11:16:00 AM
From: Don Dorsey	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 615

General Instrument Demonstrates End-to-End High Definition and Standard Definition Digital Television Solutions at NAB Convention PR Newswire - April 06, 1998 09:08 LAS VEGAS, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC) today demonstrated its end-to-end solutions for broadcasters seeking to convert from analog to digital television broadcasting. GI's booth here at the National Association of Broadcasters' annual convention demonstrated equipment embodying the four steps in the chain of content delivery for digital television broadcasts: -- Network signal origination; -- Local affiliate re-transmission and local content origination; -- Studio-to-transmitter links, and -- Consumer reception. GI's digital exhibition includes both High Definition (HDTV) and Standard Definition (SDTV) television as well as hybrid SD and HD networks. The multi-channel Standard Definition system is based on a proven technology, with more than 3,000 shipped. GI's patented Statistical Multiplexing techniques ensure that all available bandwidth is used to maximize digital picture quality. By extending current technology with ATSC compliance and HD picture formats, GI makes it possible for broadcasters to complete a smooth and easy transition to digital. "We realize that the timetable and scope for moving from analog to digital will vary according to the business goals of individual broadcasters," said John Glass, vice president/business manager of advanced video networks for GI's Satellite Data Networks Systems. "We have designed our solutions to show broadcasters how GI technology can easily be tailored to their first steps in implementing digital TV. Since we first started digital TV development years ago, we've been working and positioning our digital platform for the day when we could help launch the digital revolution." General Instrument invented the all-digital HDTV system in May 1990 and has been a leader in U.S. HDTV standards development, winning five Emmy(R) awards for technical innovation and excellence along the way. The company's leadership and technology are the basis of the Grand Alliance (GA) and the ATSC digital television standard. GI's DTV encoding system is fully ATSC compliant and backward compatible with the company's current standard definition MPEG-2 system, which is widely deployed around the world and provides a natural growth path for current users. As such, GI's encoding system is a proven platform for new customers to launch high definition, standard definition or a mix of both services. The DTV encoding system, developed by the company's San Diego-based Satellite Data Network Systems business unit, compresses and multiplexes both SDTV and HDTV signals in a single, ATSC-compliant, integrated encoding and transmission system for DTV applications in terrestrial broadcast, satellite, microwave and fiber network transmission. GI's DigiCipher(R) II ATSC encoding and transmission systems offer broadcasters a multi-stage, cost-effective and flexible approach to move from NTSC to SDTV as well as HDTV. They allow broadcasters to start from one service and move to another or to mixed services while preserving the value of initial investment and avoiding the expense of completely changing system architecture. In addition to ATSC compliance, the new encoding system supports the standard interfaces approved by broadcast industry groups such as the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC) is the world leader in analog and digital systems that provide video, audio and high-speed Internet/data services over cable and satellite TV networks. GI's cable and satellite TV operations have approximately 7,000 employees and annual sales of approximately $1.8 billion. Visit the General Instrument website at www.gi.com SOURCE General Instrument Corporation /CONTACT: Media, Greg La Brache, Dir., Communications, 619-404-3967, or glabrache@gi.com, or Dick Badler, VP, Corporate Comm., 215-323-1618, or dbadler@gi.com; or Investors, Dario Santana, VP, Investor Relations, 215-323-1213, or dsantana@gi.com, all of General Instrument/ /Web site: gi.com (GIC)

To: John F. Dowd who wrote (225)	4/7/1998 7:47:00 PM
From: John F. Dowd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 615

To All: Interesting development vis a vis set top boxes: REDMOND, Wash., April 7 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp. announced plans on Tuesday to collaborate and cross license technology to create a home networking environment that links personal computer and consumer electronics products. Sony will license Microsoft's Windows CE operating system for consumer electronics products and hend-held computers, the companies said in a joint statement. Microsoft, meanwhile, will license Sony's Home Networking Module for use with certain versions of Windows CE. Sony's Home Networking Module supports home networking standards currently being proposed. "The time has come for the personal computer industry and the audio-visual industry to shake hands," said Sony President Nobuyuki Idei. "Sony supports ... the seamless integration of PC and AV products. The cooperation between Microsoft and Sony will play a key role in making this happen." As part of the pact the two companies will endorse various digital digital television standards including the support of 1080 interlaced as the preferred format for high definition television and ATSC transmission formats. "We hope our combined efforts will give birth to even more exciting products and applications in both the computer and audio visual entertainment arenas," said Microsoft Chief Executive Bill Gates.