Toshiba gets support from Microsoft on HD-DVD

The battle just got interesting with Microsoft announcing new efforts in collaboration with Toshiba on the HD-DVD format. Both the companies share patents on consumer electronics and personal computers and they are now planning to develop players for next-generation DVDs and the Longhorn operating system for portable computers.

Interestingly, the Blu-Ray camp looks stronger with Apple and Sony being two top players supporting it. Support from Microsoft is good news for the Toshiba camp. Microsoft as per this deal would get help from Toshiba’s expertise in consumer electronics. Rumor mills claim that it might also lead to Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox 360 gaming console to come with support for HD DVD format. Sony has already announced plans to support Blu-Ray format in their PlayStation 3.

Toshiba President Atsutoshi Nishida said in a statement: “The market for digital consumer products, including PCs, is huge and may develop in any number of ways”. Both companies are expected to benefit immensely from this collaboration. Microsoft Chairperson Bill Gates added: “The initial shipments of Xbox 360 will be based on today’s DVD format. We are looking at whether future versions of Xbox will incorporate an additional capability of an HD DVD player or something else.”

However, Gates made it clear that they have not yet decided to support only one of the two emerging next generation DVD platforms.