Siemens COSE service to enable interactive TV

Siemens is set to roll out a new system that the company says will enable instant messaging and voice chat via television. The service, known as COSE (apparently an acronym for "Communication Services on TV" in German), will allow developers to build IP communication technology into set-top boxes, facilitating a range of interactive television functions, from viewer-participation game shows to chat rooms related to specific programs. Of course, given the wild success of previous interactive TV efforts, we're not exactly holding our breath for this one, but we'll reserve judgement until the company actually breaks out a demo, which it will apparently do at CeBIT next month.