Verizon announced Friday that it will use Microsoft's TV platform for its future fiber-based digital television services, giving the Redmond software giant a second recent big win in a field it's tried to break into for years.

While terms of the deal were not announced, the companies said in a statement that Verizon will use Microsoft's digital TV software platform for its FiOS TV service, which is scheduled to debut later this year. The deal follows an November 2004 agreement between Microsoft and SBC, where SBC agreed to pay $400 million to use Microsoft's TV platform for its forthcoming broadband television offerings.

According to Microsoft, its software platform lets service providers give their customers a wide range of interactive features that both enhance television viewing and integrate other technologies, such as digital photos or digitally stored music. According to Microsoft, its software supports "a full range of services including interactive program guides, digital video recording, high-definition TV, on-demand programming and Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services."