Microsoft has won the Blue-ray Group's backing for a video compression scheme that can use for new high-definition discs.
Blu-ray and HD-DVD are competing to become the technology for the next generation of DVDs, which can store high-definition movies at many times the data of today’s discs.
Microsoft is not guaranteed that movie companies will use its technology and others who produce advanced DVDs because content makers can choose any approved standard, but getting approval from a consortium is a major step in that direction.
Both groups, Blu-ray and HD-DVD, have now backed three video compression standards, including VC-1, led by Microsoft, and the MPEG-4 AVS and MPEG-2 standards.
The Blu-ray consortium includes Sony, Samsung and Matsushita, while Toshiba, NEC and Sanyo support HD-DVD.
