At the launch of its CyberTV service in September, the Belgian telecommunications carrier Belgacom announced that the service will include the world's first home banking system from a set-top box.
The underlying technology is the TV Navigator and Custom Connect Server software from Network Computer Inc., a joint venture of Oracle Corp. and Netscape Communications Corp.
CyberTV is currently in a 300-customer trial and is expected to be available to 4.8 million subscribers in January.
KBC Bank & Insurance will be the financial services provider through a telephone-television connection.
Secure customer access to home banking and digital commerce will be assured with smart cards inserted into the set-top boxes.
The announcement "solidifies Network Computers Inc.'s leadership in the European Internet-television market," said David Roux, chief executive officer of the California-based company.