Windows Media Gets Philips Backing

Windows Media is continuing its march to ubiquity. Electronics manufacturer Philips has signed a pact with Microsoft to include Windows-based digital rights management technology in its semiconductors and consumer products. Microsoft has already forged similar deals with a number of other hardware makers.

The agreement means Windows Media Video and Audio version 10 will be natively supported by hundreds of products, including digital media receivers, personal video recorders and portable audio players, which use Philips' Nexperia family of multimedia semiconductors.

"The breadth of available content in Windows Media format continues to grow exponentially, and Philips has extended the reach of that content significantly by adding support across such a wide range of technology and consumer electronics products," said Microsoft vice president Amir Majidimehr in the announcement.

For its consumer lines, Philips has pledged to makes it products PlayForSure verified, meaning they will seamlessly work with Microsoft's Windows Media formats. Philips will also support Microsoft's Janus DRM technology for subscription services, like those offered by Yahoo and Napster.

Philips plans to extend Windows Media even further to in-car entertainment systems and high-definition digital television sets by the end of the year.