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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Microsoft Announces New Version of Windows Media Digital Rights Management Software
REDMOND, Wash., May 3 -- Microsoft Corp.
(Nasdaq: MSFT) today unveiled the features of the next version of its Windows
Media(R) Digital Rights Management (DRM) software, and announced early
adopters of the platform, including leading online music and movie services
entertainment companies, consumer electronics manufacturers and chip makers.
Microsoft's next generation of Windows Media DRM technology will make new
scenarios possible, such as protecting, delivering and playing subscription-
based or on-demand digital music and video. These scenarios span Windows(R)-
based PCs and devices, including portable audio devices, Portable Media
Centers, cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as
Windows Mobile(TM)-based Pocket PCs and Smartphones, and networked devices
connected within the home, including those that connect over a wireless
network.
The promise of how this DRM technology enables these new scenarios has
already attracted support from the following companies:
-- Content companies America Online Inc., The Disney Co. and OD2
-- Service providers CinemaNow Inc., Movielink LLC, MusicNow LLC, Napster
LLC, VirginMega France and Yacast
-- Consumer electronic device manufacturers Archos SA, Creative, Dell
Inc., Digital 5 Inc., iRiver International, PRISMIQ Inc., PURE
Digital, Rio, Samsung Electronics Company Ltd., SimpleDevices Inc. and
2Wire Inc.
-- Chip makers BridgeCo AG, Equator Technologies Inc., Imagination
Technologies, Micronas, Motorola Inc., Sigma Designs Inc. and
SigmaTel Inc.
There is also support for the new DRM by manufacturers of Windows Media
Center Extender Technology and Windows Media Connect devices, including
Alienware Corp., Creative and Dell. This new version of Windows Media DRM
reinforces Microsoft's strong commitment to the digital media marketplace
supporting the company's vision of enabling the seamless flow of music and
movies for consumers while ensuring that content owners are able to build
robust businesses.
"Consumers are embracing online music with a passion, as evidenced by the
nearly 20 million people that visit our music sites every month streaming up
to 4 million songs and videos a day," said Alex Blum, vice president of
broadband, music, games and entertainment products for AOL. "Our goal has
always been to offer music fans the widest range of options to experience
leading content in the highest quality possible. Microsoft's latest version of
Windows Media DRM will help us continue to take legitimate digital music
offerings, particularly for our rapidly growing broadband audience, to the
next level, ultimately meeting the consumer's goal of taking purchased or
rented digital songs, games and movies with them wherever they want, on any
device."
"This is a positive development in the continuing effort to provide
consumers with more choices for enjoying legitimate entertainment content on
emerging digital platforms," said Bob Lambert, senior vice president of New
Technology at Disney. "Consumers, content companies and technology companies
stand to benefit as content continues to migrate from analog to digital
devices, and Microsoft's ongoing commitment to create robust, flexible and
secure media technology will help facilitate these new experiences and
business initiatives."
With the growth in popularity of portable media players and the emerging
market for networked media devices, such as digital audio receivers, content
owners want to make sure that their music and movies can be enjoyed by
consumers in a variety of situations while still being protected from piracy.
Microsoft's new DRM will enable a more secure yet seamless flow of content to
dozens of devices, and support the widest range of purchase and rental options
for digital media ever available.
"The next generation of Windows Media DRM breaks new ground for music
and video services so they can offer consumers more choices and an even
better experience when buying, renting or previewing premium content," said
Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of the Windows Digital Media
Division at Microsoft. "Imagine paying a low monthly fee to fill your portable
music player with thousands of songs, or renting a dozen movies to take with
you on a Portable Media Center when you go on holiday, perhaps watching them
as you sit on the plane, or letting your kids watch them in the back seat of
the car. This kind of flexibility is what our technology is designed to
enable."
New Features of Windows Media DRM
The next version of Windows Media DRM will offer new features designed to
improve the user experience and offer music and video services the flexibility
to implement new business models. These features cover a range of user
scenarios. For instance, license chaining makes it easier for licenses to be
renewed (a direct benefit for consumers with large content libraries filled
with subscription content), and support for secure time clocks and metering
make it possible for services to offer subscription content to portable
devices for transfer and playback for the first time. In addition, improved
license synchronization and license store performance make it easier and
faster for consumers to manage and access their music. Microchip and device
manufacturers can implement support for next-generation Windows Media DRM
today through porting kits that include ANSI C code and other tools to help
them rapidly integrate these new features into any device, including portable
media players, set-top boxes, mobile devices or digital media receivers. Also
available is the Windows Media Rights Manager Software Development Kit (SDK),
which supports the new DRM functionality being delivered on the PC and
devices.
"This improved Windows Media DRM opens the door for Napster subscribers to
increase their value by putting the music they've paid for through their
subscription onto their digital players without having to pay again for each
song," said Chris Gorog, chairman and CEO of Roxio Inc., parent company of
Napster. "Microsoft's technology might be the biggest step forward in the
fight against digital piracy and should catalyze the recurring revenue model
for record labels and artists."
"The next generation of Windows Media DRM technology can enhance
Creative's customer experiences both on the go and throughout the home," said
Craig McHugh, president of Creative. "Creative is already enhancing digital
entertainment with support for Windows DRM across various product categories
and will continue to support the next generation of Windows DRM technology
this year in a variety of products."
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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