Broadcom and Microsoft Collaborate on Next-Generation IPTV System-on-a-Chip

New relationship expands Mediaroom ecosystem and brings new capabilities for
advanced connected TV services.

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. and Broadcom
Corporation today announced a collaboration in Internet Protocol Television
(IPTV) products. The collaboration includes Microsoft and Broadcom working
together to enable the popular Microsoft Mediaroom(TM) IPTV client software to
operate on next-generation set-top boxes (STBs) utilizing the Broadcom(R)
BCM7405 System-on-a-Chip (SOC). This technology will permit service providers
and original equipment manufacturers to support a range of features such as
whole-home digital video recording (DVR), high-performance user interfaces,
and photo and music sharing.
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The new alliance with Broadcom exemplifies the continued commitment by
Microsoft and its ecosystem partners to deliver market leadership and
innovation to Microsoft Mediaroom customers and to make new connected TV
services a reality for service providers worldwide. Working together,
Microsoft and Broadcom are leveraging the capabilities of the BCM7405 SOC to
further enhance the performance of Microsoft's Mediaroom platform in support
of next-generation service provider requirements.
"We're providing our Microsoft Mediaroom customers with innovative
connected TV services that help differentiate them in the marketplace," said
Christine Heckart, general manager of marketing for Microsoft TV. "Broadcom's
high-performing chipsets provide our customers with greater choice while
allowing us to deliver new, richer TV applications."
In support of these new connected TV services, Broadcom and Microsoft are
also working to help ensure the highest level of security functionality on
this new platform. This is especially important in deployments where multiple
conditional access technologies must be supported, such as in Europe.
"BT is very happy to see Broadcom join the Microsoft Mediaroom ecosystem
of suppliers," said Richard Griffiths, director of Technology Strategy and
Development at BT Vision, a customer of Microsoft. "The [BCM]7405 SOC will
enable us to offer our customers even more powerful applications and services
on their TV through the BT Vision V-box."
"We are very pleased to be working with Microsoft on this important
collaboration," said Richard Nelson, vice president of marketing for
Broadcom's Broadband Communications Group. "Microsoft is driving the movement
toward exciting and connected TV experiences, and we see increased synergy
between the breadth of Broadcom product offerings and what Microsoft wants to
enable within the whole-home DVR environment and beyond."
BCM74xx series SOCs from Broadcom can also be embedded into other consumer
devices to allow users to choose from a variety of IPTV-ready receivers such
as HD DVD players and television sets. This creates more opportunities to
experience connected TV through other devices and services.
"This relationship demonstrates how Microsoft Mediaroom ecosystem partners
continue to drive innovation across the television industry," said Michelle
Abraham, principal analyst at In-Stat. "The combination of the Microsoft and
Broadcom SOC will be especially attractive to service providers who want to
stay ahead of the competition in delivering highly innovative connected TV
services."
About Broadcom's BCM7405 System-on-a-Chip Solution
Broadcom's highly integrated low-power 65 nanometer solution leverages
Broadcom's proven track record and market leadership in set-top box
technologies to deliver unprecedented levels of performance, system security
and cost savings. It supports the latest in interactive features and a wide
range of video compression standards (such as VC-1 and H.264), and includes
support for new video compression standards such as China's AVS. It offers
support for multiple conditional access and digital rights management
solutions, including Windows Media Digital Rights Management 10 and Mediaroom
security requirements. The BCM7405 can decode and display simultaneous high
definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) video with picture-in-picture and
mosaic support. Multiple planes of HD graphics, powerful content security, and
support for peripherals including USB 2.0, SATA II, Ethernet and HDMI 1.3 are
provided. A 64-bit 400 MHz multimode DDR2 controller is also provided, as is
support for NOR and NAND flash.
About Microsoft Mediaroom
The award-winning Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)
and multimedia software platform is driving the future of television by
enabling broadband service providers to deliver new connected TV and
entertainment experiences to consumers worldwide. Microsoft Mediaroom provides
new ways for consumers to experience TV as part of their connected, digital
lifestyle, while also creating new business opportunities for broadband
service providers, hardware manufacturers, content creators, advertisers and
application developers. Over 20 of the world's leading service providers
across four continents have selected the Microsoft Mediaroom platform to drive
their digital TV services. More information on Microsoft Mediaroom and the
opportunity to deliver the best in TV plus all a customer's media in one place
is available at http://www.microsoft.com/TV and
http://www.microsoftmediaroom.com.
About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in
semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom(R) products
enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the
home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide the industry's
broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art, system-on-a-chip and software
solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital
entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These
solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).
Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies,
with 2006 revenue of $3.67 billion, and holds over 2,300 U.S. and 1,000
foreign patents, more than 7,100 additional pending patent applications, and
one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and
wireless transmission of voice, video and data.
Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research
facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at
+1.949.926.5000 or at http://www.broadcom.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

pr.mspx./ /CONTACT: Microsoft TV Team of Weber Shandwick, +1-425-452-5400,
mstv@webershandwick.com, for Microsoft Corp.; or Laura Brandlin of Broadcom
PR, +1-949-926-5108, lbrandlin@broadcom.com