The MSN Israel portal is expanding the use of Hotmail.com e-mail services to TV sets, through cooperation with the YES satellite broadcasting company. Informed sources said the deal between the two companies was worth tens of thousands of dollars.
The new service enables subscribers to obtain e-mail services through television sets, without using a computer. The service is currently undergoing its first test with YES employees.
The new service will enable Hotmail users registered on the MSN Israel site, who are also YES subscribers, to use all e-mail functions through their TV set. The user interface is fully operated through the TV remote control, which opens a virtual keyboard for typing. The system also prompts users about new messages.
The size of the box for Hebrew-language Hotmail subscribers will not change from three Mgb during the test. MSN Israel will, however, consider enlarging the box for a few. The sources added that YES has not yet decided whether to charge its subscribers when the trial period is finished and the system becomes fully operative.
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) founded MSN in 1995. According to company figures, the number of its subscribers worldwide recently reached 235 million. MSN Israel, which went on the air in April 2000, is owned by Microsoft (49.9%) and Internet Gold (Nasdaq: IGLD) (50.1%).
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on January 12, 2003