SET-top box maker Pace Micro Technology has won a new contract with BT to supply the telecoms giant with second-generation hybrid personal video recorders.
No figure was given for the deal as it depends on how many boxes are sold, but BT's medium term goal is to secure two to three million subscribers for its BT Vision service.
Shares in Saltaire-based Pace closed up 3.6 per cent at 86p last night. S
hareholders were relieved that BT had awarded the contract to Pace following rumours that it might switch to rival Motorola.
BT has previously dealt with the set-top box division of Philips, which was bought by Pace last month for up to £63m.
The new contract is for BT's next-generation V-Box. The High Definition capable V-Box recorder will provide access for up to 40 Freeview TV channels and 30 radio channels.
Customers will also be able to record 80 hours of content and will get on-demand access to a huge library of films, TV shows, music videos and sport and a range of interactive applications.
Pace chief executive Neil Gaydon said: "The hybrid model of providing the latest interactive services, alongside digital terrestrial programming, is a very compelling one."
Deliveries are expected to commence in 2009.
The acquisition of Philips makes Pace the world's third-biggest set-top box maker behind Thomson and Motorola.
Pace will have rights to the Philips name on set top boxes for three years and then the Pace brand will take over from Philips.
Philips shipped some seven million boxes last year while Pace shipped 3.6 million.
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