Motorola secures deal with BT Vision

Motorola has secured a contract to supply BT Group Plc with set-top boxes for its BT vision, on-demand entertainment service.

The BT Vision service provides digital TV and pay-per-view video over a broadband connection, to consumer electronic devices such as TVs. BT is also planning to make the service available on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 games console.

Under the new deal, Motorola is to manufacture the second generation of ‘V-boxes’ for the service, which was launched in December 2006.

Motorola has previously worked extensively with Microsoft on deployments of its Mediaroom software platform which supports the BT Vision service.

Motorola will bring a new look to the V-Box, together with improved performance, enhanced features and greater energy efficiency. The new boxes will take advantage of the increasing capabilities of the Microsoft Mediaroom platform and of the most recent advances in chipset technology. The boxes will be deployed in 2009.

The V-Box digital TV recorder will provide access to up to 40 Freeview TV channels and 30 radio channels. It will be capable of recording around 80 hours of content, and users will have access to a library of films, TV shows, music videos and sport on demand.

BT aims to secure two to three million customers for BT Vision in the medium-term.