Network Computer Inc (NCI) has won a major contract with Belgacom SA to supply software for the Belgium national telco’s online interactive TV service, CyberTV. The Californian affiliate of Oracle Corp and Netscape Communications Corp will provide its TV Navigator and Custom Server software for the set-top box-based service, which is being tested by 300 Belgacom customers. The company would not comment on the financial terms of the deal. Belgacom also announced that the CyberTV service would offer home banking services, which it claims is a first for a set-top based system. The banking software – CERA online for CyberTV – developed by Belgium’s KBC Bank & Insurance, will offer account transactions such as fund transfers, account management and registering for investment funds and shares. Scorpio has developed the security application for bank transactions. The set-top box will also use smart cards, according to the Belgacom spokesman, although the card details and specification have not yet been finalized. The set-top boxes will be manufactured by Acer Inc. Belgacom expects to have signed up 50,000 customers for its new service by the end of the year.
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