Microsoft Enriches IPTV Package, Seeks App. Development

Microsoft has added music and photo sharing to its IPTV Edition software, which has been renamed Media Room, and created tools aimed at creation of applications designed to present content in new and interesting ways.

By connecting an ordinary set-top box to a home network via standard Ethernet link, consumers enable Media Room to access photos and music on their PCs for display and sound – at the same time – through their TVs.

The vendor also announced the Home Media Application Environment that enables telcos and third parties to create applications that support multiple camera angles, for example, for sporting events and multiple picture-in-picture capabilities.

“People can explore a menu using their remote to see and play music and see and launch slideshows of pictures, with the software supporting any standard MP3 format for audio,” said Christine Heckart, general manage for the Microsoft TV business unit.

“It’s up to what service provider want to do,” she said of the environment for Web-based apps created using XHTML or Java script. “They can create a compelling way to watch TV, but it’s not initially about commerce or interactive TV applications.”

One she described generically would enable viewers to create a favorite channel using the picture-in-picture capability to present content, data and games concurrently.

The additions to the renamed IPTV software are currently in beta, Heckart added, noting that its IPTV software for the Xbox 360 gaming console, announced in early January, is still on target for general availability by the holiday season.

“This is a good announcement in a feature sense, certainly is the direction the operators want to go — more features and capabilities to act as a stronger consumer draw,” said Tom Nolle, president of CIMI Corp. AT&T Inc. is one of many carriers using the originally Microsoft TV package.

Nolle believes there’s work to be done or better communications needed when it comes to discussing how Microsoft’s various assets are connected with its Connected Services Framework package.

“The things that still need tidying up, in my view, are the relationship between Mediaroom and the CSF and the premises devices, including Vista and Xbox. Microsoft needs to have a truly integrated offering, one that leverages its premises strengths and also one that links IPTV to a complete set of provider-hosted services. They may have that story in hand, but they’re not telling it like the need to.”

While Heckart did not get into this topic, she did say that the Xbox 360 IPTV package is in lab trials and not yet available for public trials.

She said the company has received strong interest from cablecos in Media Room, but, for now at least, is staying with its original plan to sell it exclusively to telcos.

Microsoft also renamed IPTV for Xbox 360 offering to Xbox 360 with Microsoft Media Room.

CIMI Corp. www.cimicorp.com
Microsoft Corp. www.microsoft.com

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