As it becomes increasing difficult to decide into which section to put the convergencies stories, we feel this one is more MP3 than STB [Set-Top Box]. As the MP3 epidemic sweeps the web and electrical stores near you, it has found another channel to pollinate numerous new subscribers of the digitalTV set-top box.

ESS Technology is the company behind the new chipset that allows set-top boxes to play MP3 audio files, helping it “to become a standard component of consumer audio electronics. We believe that we can deliver this function to the mass market at a significant cost advantage,” said Johnston Chen, vice president of consumer products for ESS.

As the company announced its plans it did not name manufacturers that plan to use the chipset. Some set-top products, including all of Microsoft’s WebTV models, already include support for MP3. Boxes by another box maker, Scientific-Atlanta, do not. Let the games begin.

http://www.esstech.com/