InterVideo Inc. announced that it has been licensed by Microsoft to supply Windows Media Technology to makers of Linux-based consumer devices. Under the agreement, InterVideo can port various components of Microsoft's Windows Media Technology to Linux, and provide them to manufacturers wanting to run them on Linux-based consumer devices such as set-top boxes, personal video recorders, and other such… devices, the company said. The main components involved are Windows Media Audio and Video codecs, Windows Media file container, Windows Media streaming protocols, and DRM support.

Currently, InterVideo offers embedded Linux versions of its DVD and DVR PC software for consumer electronics manufacturers. Subsequent to this agreement with Microsoft, the company can now add support for Windows Media Technology to these offerings, the company said.

“Linux is quickly becoming the platform of choice for . . . manufacturers of cable, Internet, and satellite set-top boxes that are looking to add PVR (personal video recording) and DVD functionality,” noted InterVideo CEO Steve Ro. “We believe most of the major consumer electronics companies are looking at the Linux platform as a stable, low cost solution for multimedia functionality . . . For manufacturers looking to add functionality without incurring huge expenses, using Windows Media Technology could result in high quality audio and video at low licensing costs.”

InterVideo currently offers software components that support DVD, MP3, PVR and video editing implementations on Linux, and several major consumer electronics devices are expected to ship in 2003 with InterVideo's LinDVD (DVD playback) and/or LinDVR (digital video/personal video recording) functionality inside, the company said.

Additionally, InterVideo said it is currently in the process of incorporating MontaVista Software's consumer electronics oriented version of Linux into several set-top reference designs based on X86 and MIPS processors.

 
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