(6 March 2006 3:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Amino, the UK-based IPTV software and consumer premises equipment provider, has announced that it will integrate the Firefox browser into its range of IPTV set-top boxes.

Firefox, recently reported to be approaching a 13 per cent share of the Internet browser market on PCs, will be ported to Amino's software stack and adapted to provide consumers with a clear television interface, wholly different from the web-user experience of the current software.

It will also give Amino the ability to customize and optimize the browser for IPTV viewing. The Firefox browser will be available to Amino customers in Q3 2006, informs an official release.

Amino CTO Paul Fellows says, "Amino has always been at the forefront of technological innovation in the IPTV sector and has used its engineering expertise to provide the most flexible and cost-effective product offering on the market." He continued, "While Amino continues to support the leading IPTV user interface software from other suppliers, the Firefox browser will offer our customers a means of providing essential IPTV navigation at zero cost."

The Firefox web browser is developed by the Mozilla Foundation, a not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting choice and innovation on the Internet. Engineers and partner companies from around the world assisted in the development of Firefox through bug reporting, fixing and feedback, the release adds.

"The company's approach to IPTV design and engineering mirrors the use of the Linux operating system and our commitment to open source software in general. This additional IPTV browser option should achieve the same goals we are striving for in the Internet space; choice and flexibility for customers, in this case the IPTV service providers," adds Fellows.