Microsoft Corp. and BT today announced BT’s intention to use the Microsoft® TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform to deliver TV over broadband in the United Kingdom. The announcement further strengthens Microsoft’s continued commitment to working with the world’s leading network operators to bring next-generation television services to consumers.

BT plans to trial TV over broadband services powered by Microsoft TV IPTV Edition in early 2006, with delivery of a commercial service expected to begin in the summer of 2006.

“BT continues to demonstrate its commitment to broadband in the U.K. through the development of a portfolio of innovative broadband services designed to deliver more and more value to our customers,” said Gavin Patterson, group managing director of BT Retail. “BT and Microsoft share a common vision for converged entertainment in the home. TV over broadband services will play an important role in BT’s triple-play offering for consumers. Our approach of over-the-air broadcast and broadband-delivered video-on-demand, interactivity and enhanced support is the perfect solution and complements existing TV propositions already in the U.K. market. The combination of Microsoft’s best-in-class technology with BT’s 21st-century network will result in an incredibly exciting set of next-generation entertainment and communication services available to consumers across the U.K.”