New Processor Offers Microsoft's Multimedia Platform with 50% Performance Boost

Microsoft is promising that a new processor from Sigma Designs will offer a cost-efficient and high-performance design to service providers that are building solutions on top of the Redmond company's multimedia platform. The integration between Mediaroom Internet Protocol Television and the Sigma SMP8654 SoC next-generation of set-top products is possible through the collaboration of Microsoft and Sigma Designs. The upcoming digital media processing system-on-a-chip from Sigma Designs will feature support for DVR Anywhere, PC-to-TVcontent sharing and connected television services in conjunction with Microsoft's IPTV and multimedia platform.

"Sigma's new system-on-a-chip technology gives our customers new ways to reduce costs and improve the performance of their IPTV service deployments. Sigma has been a key partner in the Microsoft Mediaroom ecosystem for more than two years. Our latest SoC collaboration with Sigma will give our customers the ability to offer their subscribers new ways to get the best in TV plus all their media, such as photos, music and favorite shows, in one place," revealed Christine Heckart, general manager of marketing for Microsoft TV.

Microsoft and Sigma Designs promise that SMP8654 will offer Mediaroom an estimated 50% boost in performance. SMP8654 is set up as the successor of SMP8634, and offers an expansion of Microsoft Mediaroom ecosystem of solutions. The media processor brings to the table a multi-core architecture with a 500 Mhz Mips 24k main CPU, optimized through the secondary IPU Mips processor.

"We are very pleased with the success we've experienced as a key technology partner within the Microsoft Mediaroom ecosystem. Microsoft is a key driving force in the development of the IPTV industry, and we are energized to be moving into our second-generation platform together," added Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing for Sigma Designs.