Samsung Electronics and Microsoft Announce Plans to Expand Access to Digital Entertainment

REDMOND, Wash. and SEOUL, South Korea, April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a significant agreement that will improve flexibility for consumers looking to transfer and enjoy digital content on a range of devices, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced plans to include Microsoft PlayReady technology in a broad range of its consumer products. By including support for PlayReady technology in devices spanning mobile phones, digital video players, televisions and other device offerings, Samsung will make it easier for consumers to have flexible access and to experience and move protected digital content throughout the home and on the go.

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"Consumers are increasingly interested in accessing the content they love where they want and when they want," said Dr. W. P. Hong, executive vice president of the Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. "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."

"We share Samsung's dedication to deliver on the promise of making digital entertainment content available in more scenarios and on more devices," said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of the Original Equipment Manufacturer Division at Microsoft Corp. "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."

The first Samsung communications and entertainment devices to support PlayReady are expected to be available for consumers this year, and Samsung expects to migrate from Windows Media Digital Rights Management to PlayReady across its communications and entertainment products worldwide by 2012.

Microsoft PlayReady is content access and protection technology that is designed to enable digital entertainment services across devices and software applications, with a specific focus on meeting the needs of mobile and network operators, service providers, and device manufacturers. PlayReady supports a broad range of different business models that can be applied to almost any type of digital content, including video, games, images and more, and a wide range of audio and video formats, including MPEG Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), AAC+, Enhanced AAC+, H.264, Windows Media Audio and Windows Media Video. PlayReady also provides features such as service domains and embedded licenses that are specifically designed to make it easy for consumers to enjoy content on all their registered devices without the need for an active connection.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US $116.7 billion. Employing approximately 157,700 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of seven independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit: www.samsung.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.