Verizon plans to use the Microsoft TV platform as part of its fiber-based telco TV service, scheduled to launch later this year.
Verizon, which began offering its fiber-based FiOS high speed broadband service to customers in Northern Virginia and Texas this week, will use Microsoft's software on set-top boxes supplied by Motorola to support HDTV, DVR, VOD and interactive EPG services to customers who subscribe to Verizon's video services.
Verizon says its FiOS TV will allow the company to provide future video applications based on IP technology. The Microsoft TV platform will work in parallel with Verizon's iobi service delivery platform, which allows information to be shared across many different networks, applications and devices.
Microsoft signed a similar deal last year worth more than $400 million with SBC, another telco entering the video market this year.
