Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV and Multimedia Platform Debuts at NXTcomm

Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV and Multimedia Platform Debuts at NXTcomm

CHICAGO, June 18/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

- Latest update to award-winning IPTV platform includes exciting
connected entertainment features; new ingredient brand to support service
provider marketing activities.

Microsoft Corp (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced the availability of
Microsoft(R) Mediaroom(TM), the latest update to its award-winning Internet
Protocol television (IPTV) software platform, featuring several new
multimedia capabilities, including in-home personal music and photo sharing,
dynamic MultiView (multiple picture-in-picture) capabilities, Multimedia
Application Environment for development of interactive services and advanced
applications, and digital terrestrial television (DTT) support. Microsoft
also introduced the Microsoft Mediaroom Application Development toolkit,
which provides service providers and third-party developers with tools to
create compelling, revenue-generating TV-based applications that run on the
platform.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070618/AQM041-a)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070618/AQM041-b)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070618/AQM041-c)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

With this latest release, Microsoft is renaming its IPTV platform
Microsoft Mediaroom to better reflect the broader set of new connected
entertainment experiences made possible today and the types of experiences
anticipated in the future. In addition, the Microsoft Mediaroom name and
identity are designed to be used by service providers as an ingredient brand
to create a powerful competitive differentiator to support their consumer
marketing activities.

Building upon existing Microsoft IPTV features, such as enhanced digital
video recording, video on demand, high-definition television and instant
channel zapping, the Microsoft Mediaroom platform introduces the following:

-- Personal media sharing. This enables consumers to easily listen to
digital music and view digital photographs stored on PCs elsewhere in
the home on the best screen in the house: the television.

-- Multimedia Application Environment. The environment offers richer
support for web services and applications, enabling service providers
to deploy advanced features such as dynamic video-on-demand portals,
casual games and interactive TV services.

-- Enhanced MultiView capabilities. These allow consumers to see multiple
channels, programmes and camera angles on one screen.

The launch of Microsoft Mediaroom also marks the general availability of
DTT capabilities on the platform, allowing service providers in regions with
DTT programming to offer fully integrated, seamless IPTV services.

"Microsoft is committed to providing our IPTV customers with the very
best software platform so they can take full advantage of their intelligent,
two-way IP networks, and begin deploying richer and more personalised TV
and connected entertainment experiences," said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate
vice president of the Microsoft TV business at Microsoft. "With personal
media sharing and new application development capabilities, Microsoft
Mediaroom brings the consumer television experience to a new level, enabling
the best in TV, plus access to all your media in one place."

"In the highly competitive television market, a well-regarded brand can
be a very strong asset," said Christine Heckart, general manager of worldwide
marketing for Microsoft TV. "By leveraging Microsoft Mediaroom as an
ingredient brand, service providers can take advantage of the worldwide
awareness, positive attributes and consumer preference for Microsoft-based
solutions."

"As the digital TV services market continues to grow, service providers
will search for competitive differentiators that set them apart in terms of
features and overall consumer experience," said Michelle Abraham, principal
analyst at In-Stat. "A compelling and competitive feature set, powered by one
of the strongest consumer brands in the world and the ability to create
unique applications and services, is the recipe to convert consumers' demand
into service revenues."

More than 18 of the world's leading service providers have selected the
Microsoft Mediaroom platform for their digital TV offerings, and commercial
deployments are currently underway with 10 providers. The Microsoft Mediaroom
platform will be on display in Microsoft Booth 3531 at NXTcomm, the new
industry venue featuring the business and technology of communications,
taking place June 19-21, 2007, at Chicago's McCormick Place.

About Microsoft TV

Microsoft TV enables the future of television by helping broadband
network operators deliver advanced digital TV services and new connected
entertainment experiences to audiences worldwide. Microsoft TV solutions
offer a rich, personalised consumer experience while creating new business
opportunities for broadband service providers, hardware manufacturers,
content creators, advertisers and application developers. Microsoft Mediaroom
is the latest update to Microsoft's award-winning Internet Protocol
Television (IPTV) software platform. With Microsoft Mediaroom, service
providers can deliver a superior experience, with advanced digital TV
features and multimedia capabilities. More information about Microsoft
Mediaroom and the opportunity to deliver the best in TV plus all your media
in one place is available at http://www.microsoft.com/TV and
http://www.microsoftmediaroom.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise
their full potential.

About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)

Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 12,000 people in over 55 subsidiaries, delivering products
and services in more than 139 countries and territories.

This material is for informational purposes only. Microsoft Corp
disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to use of the material
for other purposes. Microsoft Corp shall not, at any time, be liable for any
special, direct, indirect or consequential damages, whether in an action of
contract, negligence or other action arising out of or in connection with the
use or performance of the material. Nothing herein should be construed as
constituting any kind of warranty.

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com

http://www.microsoftmediaroom.com

Source: Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft PR Contacts, Microsoft TV Team, Weber Shandwick +1-425-452-5400, mstv@webershandwick.com, or Microsoft EMEA Response Centre, +44-870-243-0515, emearesponse@waggeneredstrom.com; NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft in EMEA, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/emea or the EMEA Press Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at the time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact the Microsoft EMEA Press Office at +44-870-243-0515 or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/contactus. If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft Corp, please visit the Microsoft web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages; Photo: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO, NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070618/AQM041-a, http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070618/AQM041-b, http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070618/AQM041-c, AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org, PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

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