Microsoft Turns On IPTV
SBC agrees to use the company's Internet-based television platform
By John Blau, IDG News Service

Microsoft has turned the channel on its slow-moving television software business by winning a key contract for its new Internet-based TV platform from SBC Communications.
SBC, the second-largest network operator in the U.S., agreed to a 10-year licensing deal, worth $400 million, to use Microsoft's new IP Television (IPTV) software, the companies announced this week.
The IPTV deal, among the largest to date, is part of SBC's plan to compete with cable operators for TV customers.
SBC has been testing an IP (Internet Protocol) TV service built on the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition platform since June 2004. The San Antonio, Texas, operator plans to begin field trials in mid-2005 and offer commercial service by the end of the year.
High-Speed Network
In the first quarter of 2005, SBC plans to begin construction of a new high-speed network that will provide IPTV, VoIP, and Internet access. The company expects to connect 18 million homes to the network by the end of 2007.
Microsoft technology will let SBC compress digital signals and send them over its high-speed network. The software also will provide voice and data services simultaneously, the operator says. The technology also provides a comprehensive security system, including subscriber and end-to-end digital rights management technology, to protect content across multiple devices.
As part of its IPTV offering, SBC plans to include customizable channel lineups, video on demand, digital video recording, multimedia interactive program guides, and event notifications, it says.
Microsoft has landed deals for its IPTV platform with several operators outside of the U.S., including Bell Canada International, Swisscom, Telecom Italia SpA, and India's Reliance Infocomm. In the second quarter Microsoft also announced a deal with U.S.-based Comcast for related TV software.

IPTV Deployment
IPTV changes the way consumers watch television
By Ian Elwood

IPTV is a system of delivering television content to consumers over the infrastructure of the Internet. With the proliferation of broadband networks set up by telephone companies to offer broadband Internet to consumers, IPTV has overcome the problem of having limited bandwidth that was once a major barrier to deployment.

Currently there are two different ways consumers can get IPTV. They can buy a "set top box" which will convert a IPTV signal and play it on their television. The other option is to watch on a PC. Many IPTV service providers also offer voice and data capabilities with the IPTV service, making it a true "triple play" use of the broadband network. In the market of broadband applications IPTV is a major upset. With the advent of IPTV many cable television companies are being ousted from the market of providing low cost television, data and voice broadband applications to consumers.

Business applications are also in development. Services such as streaming video are widely available on IPTV due to the scalability of the medium. In Michigan the house of representatives uses IPTV to keep their employees. Two cameras in House chambers provide live coverage of floor debates and proceedings. This is one example of how IPTV can be applied in a work environment due to the flexibility and choices available in the many IPTV systems. The excitement that such a technology creates is immense for the possible applications of such a "do it yourself" television broadcasting system are endless.

The categories within IPTV are still gelling, but possibilities are still wide open as to which of the many versions of IPTV will become standard. Companies are in the initial struggle to become leaders of the market, but at this point it is anyone's game. There is no doubt that IPTV will be the next generation for television content, but it has yet to be determined which companies will be the benefactors of the innovations that are now taking place.