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Disney, Microsoft Partner on Digital Media Initiatives

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2004 - 10:12am.
Redmond, Wash. -- Microsoft announced on Monday a multi-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company to collaborate on digital media initiatives that will center on securing the distribution of Disney content using Microsoft delivery technologies. The companies did not mention many specifics of the agreement, other than to note that Disney will license Microsoft Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. "With technologies now available to bring new experiences to consumers, including high-quality digital movies through a range of secure delivery methods, the time is right for a significant cooperative effort such as this one between Microsoft and Disney to help guide the industry," said Will Poole, senior vice president of Windows client business at Microsoft.
tags: Deals | Microsoft | Disney | Digital Media | Initiatives |

Nokia to Pay Psion $242 Million for Control of Software Firm Symbian

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2004 - 10:11am.
Helsinki -- Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia announced on Monday that it has taken control of mobile software company Symbian, after agreeing to pay U.K. handheld-computer company Psion about $242 million for its stake in the company. Once completed, the deal will see Nokia's share in Symbian jump to 63%. Industry experts say many of Symbian's minority shareholders -- including Ericsson, Samsung, Siemens, Panasonic and Sony, among others -- will now have to decide whether or not they can live under Nokia's control. Symbian is the operating system used to power phones and other products made by Nokia and others.
tags: Software | Nokia | Symbian | Psion |

Florida Lawmakers Seek Stronger Restrictions on Violent Video Game Sales

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2004 - 10:09am.
Tallahassee, Fla. -- Several Florida lawmakers have introduced bills in the state's House and Senate that would stiffen penalties on retailers who sell violent or sexually explicit video games to minors, Reuters reported. The proposed legislation would compel physical retailers to demand ID from those purchasing Mature-rated game titles, and provide third-degree felony charges against those who didn't -- with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. "We want to make sure that parents are educated and that retailers are aware that [these games] are not appropriate for children," Florida state Rep. Sheri McInvale told Reuters. "We're not banning them and requiring retailers to go to expensive extremes. We're just saying we need to deal with video games in the same way we deal with pornography, alcohol and R-rated movies." 
tags: Video Game | Florida | Lawmakers | Restrictions |

Report: U.K. to Boast Nearly 5 Million Broadband Users by Year's End

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2004 - 10:08am.
London -- According to analysis firm Continental Research, the number of broadband users in the U.K. is set to jump from the current 3.6 million to nearly 5 million by year's end. The Spring 2004 Internet Report also said about 30% of the dial-up population has expressed an interest in upgrading to a faster connection this year. "With 12.6 million homes now connected to the Internet, there is a still a huge opportunity available for telecoms companies to persuade people to upgrade onto faster connections, especially as we are seeing a strong interest and demand by consumers to do so," Continental Research's Colin Shaddick said.
tags: Broadband | Reports | U.K | Year's End |