While IBM Corp tries to rally Time Warner Inc and Toshiba Corp to join it in the interactive information and entertainment delivery business, Apple Computer Inc appears to be in a rival camp pitching for the same market. It, Eastman Kodak Co and Corning Inc are among more than a dozen companies teaming to study communications systems that could deliver movies on demand, electronic newspapers and other services to peoples’ homes, Associated Press reports. The venture, called First Cities, has been rallied under the auspices of the Microelectronics & Computer Technology Corp in Austin, Texas, and it plans to announce its formation next week. Apple confirmed that it was part of the group, but would not comment on what specific services the group would study or who would own the system. Kodak and Corning had no comment, and AP’s sources said that other members include regional Baby Bells, but did not say which ones. Apple is already working with Kodak to put its Photo CD system on the Macintosh computers, and Kodak views an interactive communications system as a way to transmit digitised photos – from a photo agency to a magazine for example. Apple also has an interest in seeing its Personal Digital Assistants tap into such a net, Corning aims to grow fibre optic sales.
