EU and MSFT
Microsoft provides a basic operating system as well as proprietary links that permit other hardware and software to interact with it.
In addition, it develops software that operates computers that interact with the television set to receive many of the new products available through the set-top box. But it has not yet started a commercial roll-out.
The other two main operators of interactive television software are Open TV (OPTV) and Liberate (LBRT) .
NTL announced in autumn last year that it would use Microsoft's rival Liberate as the sole supplier of interactive software for set-top boxes.
UPC, which initially planned to use Microsoft TV -the company's interactive TV platform - on set-top boxes, made a very public decision in August 2000 also to use Liberate software after Microsoft failed to deliver its software on time.
Last year, the Commission conducted an investigation into Microsoft's links with British cable operator Telewest (TWT) .
Following that investigation, the U.S. company agreed to reduce its controlling position to a minority interest, the Commission said.
The EU is continuing to investigate Microsoft's tactics in a number of other areas.