Microsoft Corp.'s WebTV Networks Inc. will launch a test of its hybrid television and Internet service in Britain this month, company executives said Wednesday. The purpose of the test, which initially will involve less than 100 selected households, is to determine the market and technical feasibility of offering the service nationwide. The British trial is being done in conjunction with British Telecommunications' BT Internet service.

"The United Kingdom is at the forefront of the transition from analog to digital TV," said Steve Perlman, president of WebTV Networks. "This trial will enable us to gain important insight into this key market. We are thrilled to be working with BT, which is clearly one of the United Kingdom's leading providers of advanced telecommunications and Internet services."

WebTV products and services are based on open Internet standards, ensuring that U.K. content providers will be able to reach the new audience with their existing Web sites without modification.

http://www.webtv.com/

(c) Reuters