Who's Driving Microsoft's Home Entertainment Strategy?

The Windows Client business unit, headed by Senior Vice President Will Poole, is largely responsible for the Windows home entertainment strategy. This business unit encompasses Rick Thompson’s Extended Platforms Division, which is responsible for developing products that extend the PC’s role as a home entertainment device (such as Windows XP Media Center Edition); Amir Majidimehr’s Digital Media Division, which is responsible for all aspects of the Windows Media platform; and Blair Westlake’s Media/Entertainment and Technology Convergence Group, which is responsible for evangelizing Microsoft digital media technologies and products to standards bodies and other companies, particularly in the entertainment industry.

Other groups influencing Microsoft’s home entertainment strategy include the following:

Home and Entertainment, headed by Senior Vice President Robert Bach, encompasses Xbox (including “alternative entertainment” applications, such as Xbox Music Mixer, which supports transferring digital media content from a PC), Xbox peripherals (including the Xbox Media Extender), and platforms for TV operators.