New Microsoft Software For Digital Cable Boxes

Microsoft Corp. presented new software yesterday to help cable- television companies develop digital TV programming and services. The software, called Microsoft TV Foundation Edition, is a new technological platform designed to run on the digital cable boxes that sit atop many televisions.

The software, installed on both customers’ set-top boxes and on computer servers at cable companies, includes applications for cable operators to create and deliver on-screen TV guides, movies on demand and interactive advertisements for their customers. It’s also Microsoft’s most promising foray yet into interactive TV in a 10- year-long history of “ineffectual” efforts, said Josh Bernoff, an analyst with Forrester Research.

Northrop Grumman pays in suit over TRW

LOS ANGELES – Northrop Grumman Corp. has agreed to pay $111 million to settle a whistle-blower lawsuit claiming that TRW Inc. improperly billed the government on several projects from 1990 to 1997. The suit was filed under the federal False Claims Act by a former employee of TRW, which Northrop Grumman acquired in 2002. .

NEW TOP OFFICER

NetMotion Wireless, a developer of software products for wireless networks, has hired Walter Boos as senior vice president of worldwide sales. He joins from Bidpath, where he served as chief executive officer.

SHIPPING NEWS

Vessels due at the Port of Seattle today, according to the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound, include Kilo Moana, from Kodiak, Alaska, at Terminal 66; and Repulse Bay, from Vancouver, B.C., at 18. Due tomorrow are NYK Springtide, from Vancouver, B.C., at 18; OOCL Britain, from Long Beach, Calif., at 18; and Westwood Rainier, from Tokyo, at 5.

This report includes information from P-I staff, The Associated Press and Bloomberg News.