LAS VEGAS – Microsoft Corp. and Clear Channel Radio today announced, at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2007 in Las Vegas, a collaborative agreement to build a nationwide data-delivery service that will provide personalized, localized content to a variety of HD Radio receivers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The new initiative, to be called MSN Direct HD, is to be an extension of Microsoft Corp.’s existing MSN Direct service, which already transmits information including traffic, weather, movie times, sports results and stock prices to users in 100 major metropolitan areas via Smart Watches, weather stations, GPS navigation devices and small home appliances.
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Field tests of the new service are to be conducted with the support of iBiquity Digital Corporation, the developer and licensor of HD Radio Technology.
The expansion of MSN Direct to HD Radio is part of Microsoft’s Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative. Beginning immediately, the companies will introduce opportunities for consumer electronics companies and automotive manufacturers to offer MSN Direct content in HD Digital Radio format on their devices in 2008.
“We are really excited to provide MSN Direct glanceable information in high-definition format, and also to make it available to a whole new range of devices through HD Radio and our partnership with Clear Channel,” said Eric Lang, general manager of the SPOT initiative at Microsoft. “MSN Direct is a great fit for the next generation of data capable HD radios. Clear Channel Radio has demonstrated its commitment to the aggressive roll-out of HD digital radio, and will help further extend the MSN Direct-enabled product category and the realization of our vision of making everyday objects smarter through technology.”
Clear Channel Radio is currently offering HD digital radio primary broadcasts on more than 340 of its radio stations across the country of which two thirds are supplying additional audio content via HD Radio multicasting.
“Microsoft’s SPOT initiative has illustrated their ability to turn personal objects into mobile tools with this impressive platform,” said Jeff Littlejohn, executive vice president of distribution and development for Clear Channel Radio. “Combining Microsoft’s existing technology and customer service background with Clear Channel’s unprecedented HD Radio delivery platform will provide customers with a world class data service.”
MSN Direct, part of Microsoft’s Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative, is a specialized wireless service that delivers customized and personalized information to people in 100 U.S. metropolitan areas, including Providence, Boston and Worcester. Additional information is available at www.msndirect.com.
San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications Inc. (NYSE: CCU) is a global media and entertainment company specializing in “gone from home” entertainment, information and advertising. Its audio content, selected by more than 110 million listeners each week, can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, on the Internet, via iPods, through Motorola’s iRadio cell-phone service and via mobile-navigation devices from Cobra, Garmin, Kenwood and others. Clear Channel’s properties include local radio stations WHJY-FM, WHJJ-FM, WSNE-FM and WHJJ-AM. Additional information is available at www.clearchannel.com.
