Part of the next-generation Web platform from Microsoft, Silverlight allows content creators a way to take rich media experiences to a new level using the tools and skills they already have. 

Microsoft Silverlight integrates with existing Web technologies and assets to provide higher-quality experiences with lower costs for media delivery. Delivered to end users through a seamless, fast installation, Silverlight supports multiple operating systems (including Apple Macintosh OS X) and combines 2-D animation, video, and audio within a lightweight yet flexible browser plug-in (currently under 2 MB).

• Deliver media experiences and rich interactive applications (RIAs) for the Web that incorporate video, animation, interactivity, and stunning user interfaces.
  
  
• Seamless, fast installation for users, thanks to a small, on-demand, easy-to-install plug-in that is under 2 megabyte (MB) in size and works with all leading browsers.
  
  
• Consistent experiences between Windows-based and Macintosh computers without any additional installation requirements.
  
  
• Create richer, more compelling Web experiences that take greater advantage of the client for increased performance.
  
  
• Enhance existing standards/AJAX-based applications with richer graphics and media and improve their performance and capabilities by using Silverlight
  
  
• Simple integration with existing Web technologies and assets means Silverlight works with any back-end Web environment or technology. No “rip and replace” required. Silverlight integrates with your existing infrastructure and applications, including Apache, PHP, as well as JavaScript and XHTML on the client.
  
  
• Powerful encoding tools for live and on-demand publishing of media experiences with Microsoft Expression Media Encoder, including hardware-accelerated encoding of WMV and VC-1 at up to 15 times the performance of software alone when paired with a Tarari Encoder Accelerator board.
  
  
• Role-specific tools for both designers and developers that take advantage of Web standards and the breadth of the Microsoft .NET–connected software features.