Microsoft Enters Multimedia Market with Tiger Technology

Microsoft's entrance into the emerging multimedia marketplace with its new Tiger technology brings a new era of movie delivery on demand. The software can provide media-on-demand services ranging from small to large-scale systems, catering to various needs, from hotel guests to thousands of cable-television customers. Tiger's first deployment will be in a video-on-demand field trial with Tele-Communications Inc. in the Seattle area later this year. This technology marks a significant step in digitizing information, providing a repository, and enabling access to various information outlets.

Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft introduced its new software, Tiger, for delivering movies on demand, targeting various applications, from small computer systems to large-scale cable-television networks.
• Tiger technology will first be deployed in a video-on-demand field trial with Tele-Communications Inc. in the Seattle area later this year.
• The software uses existing hardware and software components, enabling commercial versions to be available soon.
• Tiger is based on the Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server operating system and runs on computer servers built around the Intel Corporation's Pentium microprocessor.
• Microsoft's Tiger technology has the potential to create a repository for digitized information, offering various applications, including telecommuting, video messaging, shopping kiosks, and business transaction processing.
• Anticipated customers for Tiger software include cable companies, telephone companies, utilities, and private networks.
• Business applications could include post-production studios and information navigation.

Statistics:

• Microsoft's Tiger technology targets services ranging from small computer systems to large-scale cable-television networks.
• The software's first deployment will be in a video-on-demand field trial with Tele-Communications Inc. in the Seattle area, scheduled for later this year.
• Tiger technology uses existing hardware and software components, with commercial versions expected to be available soon.
• The software runs on computer servers built around the Intel Corporation's Pentium microprocessor.
• Microsoft's Tiger technology is based on the Windows NT Advanced Server operating system.
• Anticipated customers for Tiger software include cable companies, telephone companies, utilities, and private networks.

Sources:

• Microsoft Corporation. (New York Times)
• Tele-Communications Inc.
• Nathan Myhrvold, Microsoft's senior vice president of advanced technology
• Compaq Computer Corporation
• Intel Corporation
• Oracle Systems Corporation
• Dataquest