Fremont, California-based InterVideo is a provider of advanced digital video and audio multimedia software products, and has been chosen by Microsoft to license the components of Windows Media Format, port them to the Linux operating system, and provide them to consumer device manufacturers.
The results of InterVideo’s porting work will be aimed at manufacturers of consumer devices including set-top boxes and personal video. InterVideo already offers embedded Linux versions of its DVD and DVD PC software and will now be able to offer Windows Media on these devices.
InterVideo is one of the first companies to benefit from Microsoft’s relaxing of its attitude towards the Linux operating system. In January 2003, Microsoft announced that it would allow developers to create software based on Windows Media 9 Series for Linux in a move that was widely seen as a reaction to rival RealNetworks Inc’s decision to open source some of its media software.
The main components of Windows media available to InterVideo for porting to Linux include the Windows Media Audio and Video codecs, the Windows Media file container, the Windows Media streaming protocols, and DRM support. Versions of these technologies for Linux are available now from InterVideo.
