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Hongkong Telecom and Microsoft Announce Strategic
Cooperation to Develop Broadband Online Services in
Hong Kong
PR Newswire - March 09, 1999 02:00
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Convergence of PC, TV and Telecommunications Technologies Ushers in a New Era In
Multimedia Services
HONG KONG, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Hongkong Telecom and Microsoft Corp.
(Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced a strategic cooperation to develop high-speed broadband
services that will allow Hong Kong to fully experience the convergence of low-cost personal
computer and telecommunications technologies. The joint effort ushers in a new era in
multimedia services for consumers and businesses in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (SAR) as they enjoy the convenience and broad array of choices offered by innovative
customer-focused and application-based services automatically delivered to their desktops at
home or at work.
The two companies will work closely together to develop a range of compelling multimedia
applications to be delivered via Hongkong Telecom's broadband network, the world's largest
asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, and the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) family of
operating systems, a true multipurpose platform.
The service will converge two distinct media technologies -- the information-centric and
inexpensive personal computer and the image-based television -- to benefit consumers,
students and businesses dramatically.
Home PC users will be able to browse the latest movie titles on their PCs or their televisions,
while at the same time having access to the wealth of information available on the Internet.
Users will also be able to communicate with their friends via live videoconferencing,
participate in voice or online chat rooms, send and receive e-mail, check the latest news, go
shopping and conduct secure e-commerce transactions. Students in particular will be able to
interact and learn in new and unique ways. Important lectures and a new class of interactive
Internet and video applications could be available in real time or on demand islandwide, and
students will be able to join interactive broadband communities of students with similar
interests.
Businesses will benefit from new and advanced solutions and applications hosted and available
through Hongkong Telecom's broadband network, while also gaining access to an entirely
new class of video-enabled applications including videoconferencing and training on demand.
The innovative services will run on a tightly integrated Microsoft platform based on the
Windows NT(R) operating system and Microsoft Commercial Internet System (MCIS). This
open platform will accommodate a wide spectrum of existing service components and capital
assets, including servers, thus facilitating rapid development of new service offerings with a
lower total cost of ownership. By allowing customers with any type of end-user device to log
on through the use of a common password, the new service will also deliver a more enjoyable
and consistent user experience.
Among the new applications scheduled to be implemented are video on demand, music on
demand, voice-over IP, software on demand, up-to-the-minute news from MSNBC and the
MSN(TM) Gaming Zone. Hongkong Telecom and Microsoft will conduct comprehensive
testing on these multimedia services before they are made available to the general public of
Hong Kong.
"Hongkong Telecom and Microsoft share a common vision for the delivery of innovative
customer-focused and application-based multimedia services to every home and business in
the SAR," said Linus W. L. Cheung, chief executive of Hongkong Telecom. "For consumers,
this will mean enhanced lifestyles with more choices. For businesses, it will mean enhanced
productivity and competitiveness, which in turn will uphold Hong Kong's position as the
region's premier financial, business and information hub. These objectives will be delivered as
part of our eVISION commitment."
"We are confident that Hongkong Telecom's advanced broadband resources and interactive
capabilities and Microsoft's world-leading software will be a great combination and will allow
the rapid deployment of high-quality multimedia services in Hong Kong as we enter the next
millennium."
"Microsoft is fully committed to realizing the SAR's drive to develop innovative technology
that benefits the people and businesses of Hong Kong," said Bill Gates, chairman and CEO of
Microsoft. "This cooperation will help create an environment that fosters the growth of
advanced technology."
"Microsoft is excited to expedite the convergence of PC, TV and telecommunications
technologies with Hongkong Telecom -- we value each other as long-term strategic partners.
And the implementation of this ground-breaking service will once again demonstrate the
scalability and reliability of the award-winning Microsoft technologies."
About Hongkong Telecom's Broadband Services
Hongkong Telecom launched the world's first broadband interactive TV (iTV) service in
March 1998, marking the company's first commercial deployment of multimedia services.
Hongkong Telecom's Internet access service, NETVIGATOR, also introduced a high-speed
access service, NETVIGATOR 1.5M Ultra Line, in May 1998.
About Microsoft Commercial Internet System (MCIS)
Based on the Windows NT operating system platform, Microsoft Commercial Internet
System is a comprehensive platform designed specifically for commercial service providers
(CSPs) and network operators. Selected by leading telephone, cable and satellite operators
worldwide, MCIS provides a highly scalable and reliable service platform based on Internet
standards for Web hosting, commerce, community, personalization, streaming services (video
and audio) and managed network services. The seamless-integration service components
enable rapid development and deployment of services with exceptionally low administrative
and support costs. More information on MCIS is available from Microsoft at
microsoft.com.
About Hongkong Telecom
Hongkong Telecom, a Cable & Wireless company, is Hong Kong's major full-service
communications provider, marketing a full array of quality voice and data telecommunication
services backed by a state-of-the-art, fully digital fibre-optic network. Services include basic
telephony, mobile telephony, international calls, specialized fax and data products,
value-added services, Internet access, multimedia services, satellite links, and
telecommunications equipment and systems.
Apart from owning and operating Asia's largest commercial teleport, Hongkong Telecom is a
pioneer in a wide range of communications solutions, such as launching the world's first fully
digitized urban network and the world's first fibre-optic cable linking China. Its broadband
network now covers more than 70 percent of the homes in Hong Kong.
Hongkong Telecom is committed to providing and developing a range of interactive
multimedia services and broadband applications. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Hongkong
Telecom Interactive Multimedia Services, was the first company to be awarded the Video on
Demand Program Services license in Hong Kong. It officially launched the world's first
broadband Interactive TV (iTV) service in March 1998. Hongkong Telecom also offers an
Internet access service, NETVIGATOR, which is currently the largest Internet service
provider (ISP) in Hong Kong. It is the first ISP to provide local content, online ticketing and
cyber-shopping in Hong Kong. NETVIGATOR also offers the first broadband Internet
access service in Hong Kong, NETVIGATOR 1.5M Ultra Line, which provides fast access
speeds up to 1.5 Mbps. |
