Microsoft to announce deal with Time Warner Cable, Comcast

<br>SEATTLE (AP) _ Microsoft Corp. on Monday plans to announce deals with Time Warner Cable and Comcast, who have agreed to run trial programs of its software for the digital cable boxes that sit atop

Monday, July 21st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SEATTLE (AP) _ Microsoft Corp. on Monday plans to announce deals with Time Warner Cable and Comcast, who have agreed to run trial programs of its software for the digital cable boxes that sit atop customers' televisions.

Time Warner will deploy Microsoft's interactive program guide software on set-top boxes in the Beaumont, Texas market, said Ed Graczyk, marketing director for Microsoft TV. Details of the trial have not been decided.

The so-called IPG software combines program information with the ability to view movies on demand and other services.

Microsoft said Comcast Cable has also agreed to test the IPG software this year. The cable operator has already committed to testing Microsoft's TV Foundation Edition software, an operating system of sorts for the cable set-top box.

That trial is scheduled to begin in Seattle later this year.