Microsoft TV

Microsoft TV is a division within Microsoft Corporation that develops Smart TV software platforms for use in set top boxes to access programming over a Cable TV network. It provides integrated audio, video and data services over a single network.

UltimateTV
UltimateTV was a DirecTV receiver, with integrated DVR and Internet access capabilities. It was Microsoft's second product to integrate a built in satellite tuner with a digital video recorder and Internet access in a set-top box. It was released on October 26, 2000. The software to decode and view digital video programming was derived from WebTV. UltimateTV had support for picture-in-picture and could record up to 35 hours of video content. The internet capabilities were provided by Microsoft TV Platform software, which was used for the TV guide. The TV guide could display programming schedule for 14 days, and recording could be scheduled for any of the shows. It could also be used to access E-mail. However, Microsoft lost distribution when DIRECTV accepted an acquisition bid by Echostar, who had their own DVR. By 2003, it was taken off the market, even though it is still supported by DirecTV.

Foundation Edition
The Microsoft TV Foundation Edition platform integrates Video-on-demand (VOD), Digital Video Recording (DVR) and HDTV programming with live Television programming. It includes an interactive programming guide (IPG) that could be used to access any supported service from a centralized directory. The IPG could be used to search and filter the listings as well.

Microsoft TV Foundation Edition platform also included an authoring environment that could be used to create content consumable from the set top box.

IPTV Edition
Microsoft TV IPTV Edition is an IPTV platform for accessing both on-demand as well as live television content over a 2-way IP network, coupled with DVR functionality. It is to be used with cable networks that have an IPTV infrastructure.

Mediaroom
Microsoft published Microsoft Mediaroom on June 18, 2007. On April 8, 2013, Microsoft and Ericsson announced plans for Ericsson to purchase Mediaroom. The sale was completed on September 5, 2013.