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Coming soon: TVs that connect to Internet directly

September 18, 2006 14:39 IST

Freedom from set-top boxes sounds good. Freedom from all those numerous cable and dish TV operators asking you to sign up for their service sounds even better.

Year 2007 could very well see the birth of a new era in television. That's because, the top five TV have manufacturers announced, that they would develop standards needed to manufacture televisions that can connect directly to the Internet.

What this means is that, the new Internet-ready TVs will be able to accept video downloaded via broadband, without the need for a set-top box.

Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba and Hitachi are hoping to take advantage of changing trends in viewing habits, which have seen the personal computer play an increasingly important role in accessing and viewing video content.

The new sets reportedly will be based on the Linux operating system. The standard to connect the new televisions to the Internet could be available in early 2007, with deliveries of sets later in the year.

Get set to view channels of your choice from an operator chosen by you, from anywhere around the globe on your Internet-ready TV set, next season.

Moneycontrol.com