MUMBAI: Software giant Microsoft and the Ambani's Reliance Infocomm have announced that they plan to work together to jointly create, test and deliver next-generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based television services.

This will be accomplished by using an upcoming IPTV solution being developed by Microsoft TV.

An official release says that this new technology is designed to enable Reliance Infocomm to leverage its nationwide high-speed infrastructure to deliver a unique set of next-generation television services that take full advantage of its state-of-the-art network. The new relationship will also enable the two companies to test the benefits to Indian households of leading Microsoft technologies such as Windows Media 9 Series, Microsoft.NET and Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Microsoft's planned IPTV solution will enable telephone and cable companies to deliver high-quality video content and services to their subscribers using two-way broadband networks. The IPTV solution is designed to combine industry and Microsoft innovations to better support the services that pay-TV operators offer today.

These include standard- and high-definition channels, on-demand programming, and interactive programme guides, with enhanced features such as instant channel changing. The solution also will enable new next-generation services that include picture-in-picture functionality using multiple video streams.