Thomson to Sell Set-Top Internet Boxes

Indianapolis-based Thomson Consumer Electronics said it will begin selling set-top boxes to link televisions to the Internet, accelerating its efforts to capitalize on the growth of the global computer network. The No. 1 U.S. seller of color televisions said its devices will cost about $300. The company will start shipping them early next year. The machines use technology from Oracle Corp.’s Network Computer Inc. division and will offer users e-mail and access to the World Wide Web. Thomson’s boxes will compete with similar devices from Philips Consumer Electronics Co. and Sony Electronics Inc. that are already in U.S. stores.