Last week Microsoft announced it will bring  Silverlight to Xbox Live within the next year. Silverligh is a cross-platform technology that Microsoft developed in response to the popular Adobe Flash format. With Silverlight, Xbox 360 owners will soon be able to experience the thrill of high-definition interactive advertisements.

By bringing Silverlight to the Xbox 360, Microsoft will enable companies to build advertising campaigns that span four screens: computers, mobile phones, Surface and now televisions. Media Post spoke to Microsoft on the imminent arrival of Microsoft Silverlight to the Xbox 360 platform. Here is what Microsoft had to say:

Silverlight-powered media on Xbox will have the same appearance as ads seen on a Web browser. Think technology that competes with Flash, only supported by 6 million Silverlight developers worldwide who now have the option to tap a variety of Microsoft tools and technologies and develop marketing campaigns for Xbox.

“Today, movie trailers are available in a high-definition (HD) format, but Silverlight will deliver 1080p HD and 5.1 surround sound without discs directly into the Xbox.” Sean Alexander, director at Microsoft’s Advertising Business Group, told MediaPost.

Though it would likely require a minimal download, Many sources believe Microsoft will save its roll-out for the next major Dashboard upgrade, rumored to hit this fall.

[Via Joystiq]