KT Corp launches video-on-demand service

SEOUL: KT Corp, South Korea's largest fixed-line telecommunications firm, said it has launched a broadband video-on-demand (VOD) service, using Microsoft Corp's latest version of Windows Media software. KT said in a statement it would be the world's first telecom company to deploy the software to power its VOD service, called HomeMedia.

Microsoft, the world's largest software company, released a new version of its Windows Media software for playing music and video on computers last month, heating up the competition to provide the dominant programme for Internet-based entertainment.

Windows Media 9 Series, previously known by its code name "Corona", offers a number of features Microsoft claims are firsts, including the ability to stream 5.1 channel surround-sound audio and high-definition video with file sizes as small as half of those of DVDs.

Korea is one of the world's leading broadband markets, where more than 67 percent of Internet users have high-speed broadband Internet access. KT said it would offer more than 4.4 million of its broadband users a variety of entertainment and information over broadband connections at speeds of up to 1 megabits per second (Mbps). Shares of KT were up 1.8 percent at 50,600 won at 0300 GMT versus a 2.3 percent rise in the broader market.

© Reuters