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SurfControl steps up non-PC filtering
Wednesday, May 02 2001
by Tony O'Brien

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SurfControl has signed a deal with Microsoft to provide Internet filtering tools for Microsoft TV, Microsoft's interactive TV platform.

SurfControl is a UK company that specialises in Internet filtering tools to let authorities, such as parents employers, filter or block access to certain Internet content.

Now it has announced a link-up with Microsoft which will see it also able to control access to Internet content accessed by interactive tv. The company on Monday announced a multi-year deal with Microsoft which will integrate its content filtering engine into the Microsoft TV platform.

SurfControl has provided filtering solutions for Microsoft's WebTV Network since 1996 and the new agreement expands the relationship to include licensees of the Microsoft TV platform. To date, TVCabo, AT&T, Rogers, United-Pan Cable-Europe and Thomson TAK are among Microsoft TV's current platform customers.

The companies said that the filtering tools will let users restrict access to questionable on-line content including sites related to hate, drugs, alcohol, pornography, weapons, violence and gambling.

The Microsoft announcement is the second in a series of non-PC Internet filtering announcements from SurfControl. Last month SurfControl signed a deal to provide Internet content filtering software for the new Intel Dot.Station Web Appliance.

Web appliances are stripped-down PCs aimed at home users, permitting services including e-mail and Web access. Intel's Dot.Station also includes a built-in telephone.

The company will full integrate its filtering software into Intel's Web appliance and licence the technology to Intel Dot.Station customers.

By cornering the market for filtering on non-PC Internet access devices, SurfControl is tapping into a lucrative and growing market. Last year IDC estimated that sales of alternative Internet access devices in the US would surpass sales of PCs by 2002. IDC said the devices are destined for success because they are cheap, easy-to-use and appealing to the wider Internet consumer market.


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