Microsoft Joins Mobile DTV Alliance

Microsoft Corp has joined a group of mobile industry leaders as a founding member of the Mobile DTV Alliance, a new organization created to promote the growth and evolution of the open standard for broadcast digital TV on mobile devices.

The software giant joins Intel, Modeo, Motorola, Nokia and Texas Instruments, in their drive to promote Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) best practices for delivery of premium-quality broadcast media to mobile devices for the North American market.

DVB-H technologies enable consumers to receive live TV-like experiences directly on their mobile handset and other DVB-H-based devices.

Yoram Solomon, president of the Mobile DTV Alliance, said, “Microsoft joined at the formation of the alliance, rounding out our participation at every level of the wireless ecosystem. We are pleased to be able to announce its participation as a founding member. The Mobile DTV Alliance provides an open ecosystem for the mobile digital TV marketplace, greatly increasing revenue opportunities, innovation and services to consumers.”

Microsoft claims mobile-optimized Microsoft Windows Media technologies have already been successfully deployed for use in mobile broadcast solutions and expects participation in the alliance to further advance Windows Media-enabled solutions for DVB-H.