Sydney – 30 January 2007 – Microsoft Australia and BigPond today announced the integration of BigPond Movies content into Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Media Center. BigPond Movies is the first movie and video download service for Windows Vista in Australia and will be available at launch.
Online Media is an innovative area of Windows Vista Media Center that introduces people to premium content like movies, music and sport that they can access via custom built entertainment websites that allow users to navigate via a remote control.
For the first time, you'll be able to access and control the BigPond Movies service via an Xbox 360 connected to a Windows Vista Media Center from the comfort of your couch. You can then download and watch content from any networked monitor in the home by using Xbox 360 as a network extender. Consumers can now kick back on their couch, download a movie, grab the remote control and watch any of BigPond Movies titles in comfort.
BigPond Movies offers over 2,000 movies, TV programmes, sport and music videos for download. It will be accessible to people using Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate versions through Media Center's Online Media section. The movie selection and download process takes place directly from the Windows Vista interface with no need to use a browser to access an external website.
"This partnership provides our customers with the power and ease-of-use of Windows Vista and the rich content of BigPond Movies – all tightly integrated into a compelling package that we feel will help extend the 'movies-on-demand' concept that we pioneered in Australia," said Mr. Justin Milne, group managing director, BigPond.
Ms Tracey Fellows, newly appointed managing director of Microsoft Australia said the partnership with BigPond will bring a world-class consumer entertainment service to Australia. "Windows Vista, with its powerful, easy-to-use entertainment capabilities, makes an ideal platform for content services to be deployed to consumers," said Ms. Fellows. "Our partnership with BigPond enables us to bring a world class online movie service to Australians."
Available from launch, the movie download service is accessible to all customers. With titles starting from $1.95 the service is affordable as well as convenient, with a choice of premium first release titles like the Da Vinci Code and classic and cult favourites including Casablanca and Little Britain.
With the user friendly navigation menu, choosing and downloading is easy and fast. With a high speed download, movie buffs can start watching their selected movie just 2 minutes after clicking download.
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Recordings and programs may be protected by copyright. Microsoft does not authorise, support or condone the use of our products for unauthorised copying. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publicly perform or modify recordings unless authorised by the copyright owner or allowed by law.
For further information, please contact:
Cathy Jamieson
Microsoft Australia
Ph: 02 9870 2220 or 0412 177 738
Cathy.jamieson@microsoft.com
Emilio Robles
Howorth Communications
02 8281 3830 or 0401 775 367
emilio@howorth.com.au
Telstra Media Contact:
Craig Middleton
Telstra
Ph: (02) 8236 4372
Mob: 0400 931 772