Mumbai – Reliance Communications and Microsoft have partnered to deliver a new IPTV service operated by Reliance which runs on the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV software platform. Reliance Communications holds exclusive deployment rights for the platform in India. The Microsoft Mediaroom platform allows Reliance’s IPTV service to provide features including video-on-demand (VOD), digital video recording (DVR), instant channel changing, and personal media sharing. Both SD and HD content will be available on TV and PC. The service is slated for launch by March 2008 with Reliance to invest a reported $US500 million in infrastructure development. As a two-way interactive medium, the IPTV service is expected to provide assessment capabilities on the reach of content and advertising as well as returns on investment. Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft said, “By connecting the TV to an intelligent two-way network and adding powerful software, new connected and personalized experiences will become possible here in India.”