Samsung and Microsoft partner up for HDTV

Microsoft and Samsung have announced that they have agreed to a deal that pairs Samsung's high-definition monitors with the HD-compatible next-generation Xbox consoles in retail kiosks. The pact will place more than 25,000 HDTVs in next-gen Xbox displays around the world.

"Gaming has become a primary force for innovation in the entertainment and technology industries. Samsung has selected Microsoft Xbox as the best next-generation game console and a key driver in the global HDTV revolution," said Peter Weedfald, senior vice president Consumer Electronics & North America Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Samsung, one of the world's leaders in technology and a major rival to PlayStation-maker Sony, will showcase several variations of its displays. The projected lineup includes monitors featuring LCD, plasma, and DLP technology.

The deal caps a long-standing alliance between the two companies. Several multimedia devices in the Samsung library incorporate Microsoft's software, including mobile phones, digital audio players, and PCs. The deal explains some of the companies' generosity at this year's GDC conference in San Francisco, where Microsoft gave away 1000 Samsung HDTV monitors to the attendees of its press conference.