Telcos to use Microsoft to deliver IPTV
Microsoft already provides the software for many telco’s IPTV offerings. Already, AT&T, British Telecom and Deutsche Telecom are using Microsoft’s underlying IPTV software, and Microsoft says 11 other companies are either evaluating the software or running trials.
They also hope to get telcos offering Xbox 360 consoles to consumers as an alternative IPTV receiver and recorder. I can think of a few consumers who would see that as a great attraction!
Bill Gates, Microsoft’s chairman, said this week at CES, “We started over 10 years ago (on IPTV), so we were completely over-optimistic.”
At CES, Microsoft is demonstrating the features of its IPTV system, including high-definition display, fast channel changing and the ability to preview channels at the bottom of the screen before switching to them.