Linux software for set-top boxes to compete with Microsoft

CHICAGO: Some of the largest makers of chips and interactive television

software have teamed up to design Linux-based software for set-top boxes that

deliver TV programming into homes, aiming to create a lower-cost product than

one from software giant Microsoft Corp.

Motorola Inc. and Pace Micro Technology represent the set-top box makers in

the 24-member venture, dubbed TV Linux Alliance. By creating a standardized

framework for Linux-based television software, the alliance hopes to bring the

technology to market more quickly and with lower development costs and fewer

integration issues than by working alone.

"The current operating systems were not particularly built to foresee

such developments" as increased processing power and memory capacity,

particularly when manufacturers begin adding more networking interfaces and

peripheral devices to set-top boxes, said Liberate Technologies Inc., CEO

Mitchell Kertzman at a news conference.

The alliance includes Microsoft's rivals in the interactive television

market, such as Liberate Technologies, OpenTV Corp. and ACTV Inc., in addition

to chipmakers like STMicroelectronics NV, Conexant Systems Inc. and Broadcom

Corp.

Other participants include network computer manufacturer Sun Microsystems

Inc.; personal video recorder makers TiVo Inc. and ReplayTV; high-speed Internet

company ExciteAtHome Corp., whose investors include cable operators AT&T

Corp. , Comcast Corp. and Cox Communications Inc. ; and Lineo, a developer of

Linux operating systems.

Jerry Krasner, executive director of Electronic Market Forecasters noted that

the alliance "should keep competition at the operating system layer

thriving." Microsoft, the biggest maker of personal computer software,

formally launched its interactive TV software in Portugal earlier this month.

(C) Reuters Limited 2001.