Samsung Embraces Microsoft PlayReady

In a move applauded for expanding access to digital entertainment, Samsung Electronics revealed plans to adopt Microsoft PlayReady for all its consumer devices. PlayReady was designed as a content-access and -protection technology that span a variety of devices and applications, and even digital entertainment services. Samsung indicated that it would stop using Windows Media Digital Rights Management, as its products were migrated to PlayReady.

“Consumers are increasingly interested in accessing the content they love where they want and when they want,” Dr. W. P. Hong, executive vice president of the Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, noted. In fact, this is the very concept behind PlayReady. In the future, customers running Samsung products will be able to enjoy the same content on a range of products, from mobile phones, to digital video players, televisions, etc., especially if the media is copyright protected.

“PlayReady is an integral technology component that will help us to deliver on our vision for connected entertainment and bring to life the kinds of seamless entertainment experiences that take full advantage of the digital medium,” Hong added.

Samsung expects to ship the first products with PlayReady support by the end of the year. At the same time, the Seoul, South Korea-based company is looking to swap Windows Media Digital Rights Management for PlayReady altogether across all communication and entertainment products in the next couple of years, by 2012.

“We share Samsung’s dedication to deliver on the promise of making digital entertainment content available in more scenarios and on more devices,” Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of the Original Equipment Manufacturer Division at Microsoft Corp., added. “By pairing powerful software such as PlayReady with its broad line of impressive consumer electronics products, Samsung is poised to offer consumers exciting new ways to deliver, share and enjoy their digital content.”