Intel, the bastion of WiMax hype, announced today that it is partnering with movie, music, and game providers around the world to introduce its Viiv technology for home media centers.
Viiv-enabled PC’s, which won’t be out until next year, let consumers download content from the Internet. Movielink, the movie download service, and British Sky Broadcasting in Britain, are two companies that will offer content compatible with Viiv.
Viiv-enabled computers, will run Microsoft Windows Media Center, can be controlled by a remote control and turn on instantly. They will be automatically configured to provide the best- quality image when viewed on a variety of devices.
Intel expects Viiv hardware and content to be available during the first quarter of next year, with simultaneous introductions in France, Germany, Italy, Britain, the United States and other countries. The hardware manufacturers have not yet been announced.
Other content owners that will provide Viiv-compliant programming include Canal+, the French pay TV service; the Japanese TV network NEC; Telecom Italia; and TiVo, according to the NY Times. Music and game content will be offered by Napster, Square Enix and Ubisoft, among other companies.
British Sky Broadcasting, of course, is headed by Rupert Murdoch who also controls DirecTV.
Maybe DirecTV ought to just buy Qwest and be done with it.
Mr. Murdock, tear down this wall.
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