Armonk, New York -- International Business Corp., the world's largest computer maker, will unveil computer chips for television set-top boxes that let viewers scan the Web as satellite and cable companies add more services.
IBM's three chips will let TVs display program guides and allow viewers to check bank balances. The chips, to be used by companies such as Samsung Group, will be available in July.By 2003, more devices such as set-top boxes, cell phones and hand-held computers than PCs will have an Internet connection, IBM said. About 28 million set-top boxes will be sold worldwide this year, IBM said, citing figures from Dataquest, a research unit of Stamford, Connecticut-based Gartner Group Inc.
"New services will require more sophisticated set-top box designs with increasing processing power," Paul Belluz, director of digital video products at IBM, said in a statement.
The new semiconductors include audio and video features now put on separate chips.
IBM shares rose 1 1/8 to 116 3/8 in early trading.