NTCA's The New Edge » Microsoft

VOTW: Microsoft’s Tech Vision

Jesse Ward — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:04:13 +0000

In late October, Microsoft released a viral video showcasing its future of technology and productivity.

To which John Pavlus over at FastCodeDesign commented that the video, although sleek and sophisticated, is not realistic for a future that is supposed to exist merely 10 years from now. Perhaps more importantly, these futuristic interfaces are supposed to solve real problems and make life easier — two points that Microsoft misses entirely in its video.

As Pavlus says, “Microsoft’s film is probably going viral as we speak, but imagine how much more reach it would have if it dared to depict a guy stuck in a meeting that sucked, or using his smartphone in an airport that was full of noisy assholes and long lines, or searching his touchscreen-enabled smart refrigerator for a quick meal because his kids are bouncing off the walls and he’s bone-tired from a long day at work?”

Food for thought for independent telcos and your technology-related marketing campaigns.

XBox 360 to Offer FiOS, Xfinity On-Demand Content

Jesse Ward — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:00:11 +0000

As had been rumored for some time, Microsoft announced yesterday that it will expand the video content available over its Xbox Live system to pay-TV subscribers in most major markets. Microsoft has deals in place with nearly 40 entertainment providers including AT&T, Comcast and Verizon FiOS, as well as Bravo, ESPN, HBO GO and Syfy. This is in addition to the inherent gaming services and previously announced content from Hulu Plus, Netflix and Google’s YouTube which are available on the Xbox.

Pay-TV subscribers will need to authenticate in order to access the content through the Xbox system. In general, users also will need to subscribe to video and broadband services from their traditional service provider (in other words, cord cutting is not an option), and subscribe to a $60 per year Xbox Live Gold membership. (Microsoft confirmed today that only a small amount of content will be available on the Xbox without authentication and Xbox Gold status.)

Analysts had anticipated a game-changing announcement, speculating that Microsoft would utilize its gaming system as a tuner to deliver live video feeds from cable channels. Analysts were expecting that Microsoft would announce a new model, a virtual cable operator offering services directly to the public and breaking up channels into a la carte offerings.

However, the software giant and its partners did not go that far; instead, subscribers will only be able to use the Xbox to access a TV Everywhere-type service, a value-add to their traditional Pay-TV service. Nevertheless, this announcement is one more step in the traditional pay-TV provider’s migration away from a proprietary set-top.

Although the Microsfot release lists a variety of cable channels, as a subscriber, what content you will have access to depends upon your video provider. For Comcast and Verizon, they are offering content on the Xbox which is already available on a variety of mobile and in-home devices. For instance, on the Xbox service, Comcast will offer access to its existing on-demand content library, while Verizon’s FiOS customers will have access to the limited channels already contained in the service provider’s established TV Everywhere package.

So what’s in this for subscribers? Well, of particular note, Microsoft has said that it intends to incorporate Kinect functionality into the service, which will allow users to quickly search for content using vocal and physical commands.

“Today’s announcement is a major step toward realizing our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy,” said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Combining the world’s leading TV and entertainment providers with the power of Kinect for Xbox 360 and the intelligence of Bing voice search will make TV and entertainment more personal, social and effortless.”

As a related aside, back in October 2010, AT&T announced that its subscribers could utilize the Xbox as a fully functional set-top box – one step further than its competitors add-on offerings discussed above. However, DSL Reports notes that the telco is changing course and will now require a user to subscribe to the Xbox Live Gold level service in order to continue using the game system as a set-top. AT&T will offer users a $60 service credit to offset the cost of the first year of membership.

VOTW: Microsoft Demos Windows 8

Jesse Ward — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:25:56 +0000

And last but not least, our video of the week (VOTW). Microsoft introduced Windows 8 last week.

Microsoft to Acquire Skype

Jesse Ward — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:47:05 +0000

Microsoft Corp. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Skype for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype.

Microsoft said that the deal will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice communications, bringing benefits to both consumers and enterprise users and generating significant new business and revenue opportunities.

With 170 million connected users and more than 207 billion minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010, Skype is the world’s most popular Internet communications service. Microsoft has a long-standing focus and investment in real-time communications across its various platforms, including Lync (which saw 30% revenue growth in Q3), Outlook, Messenger, Hotmail and Xbox LIVE.

Skype plans to support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and other Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft also plans to continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.

Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft, and Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Ballmer.

Founded in 2003, Skype was acquired by eBay in September 2005, and then by an investment group led by Silver Lake in November 2009. The agreement represents Microsoft’s biggest acquisition to date.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties hope to obtain all required regulatory clearances during the course of this calendar year.

For more, see this release.

Reuters: Microsoft Preparing Online Pay-TV Service

Jesse Ward — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:58:42 +0000

Reuters is reporting that Microsoft Corp. is in talks with media companies to license TV networks for a new online pay-television subscription service through devices such as its Xbox video game console.

Microsoft has not made a secret of its TV ambitions having previously invested in interactive video initiatives such as Web TV and MSN TV set-top box software. The company is looking for a niche in the crowded and competitive over-the-top market.

According to Reuters’ sources, Microsoft has proposed a variety of possibilities including creating a “virtual cable operator” delivered over the Internet for which users pay a monthly fee.

If this vision does not come to fruition, Microsoft is exploring the possibility of creating content silos and selling individual channels such as an HBO or Showtime, similar to its current offering of Walt Disney Co’s ESPN on XBox Live.

The article’s sources say the service may not arrive for another 12 months, but early discussions have been productive. Microsoft, of course, said it doesn’t comment on rumor or speculation.

For more, see the Reuters article.

Canadian Telco Offers IPTV via XBox 360

Jesse Ward — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:27:14 +0000

Canada’s second largest telco Telus is allowing subscribers to its IPTV service to use a Microsoft XBox 360 game console as a set-top box, an option which AT&T says it will offer its U-verse subscribers by year-end.

Optik TV customers can use the game console to:

Watch any of Optik TV’s over 400 digital channels, including over 50 in HD
Watch any shows they have recorded on their Optik HD PVR digital box
Use PVR Anywhere to record up to 3 live shows simultaneously from any room
Pause a recorded program in one room and pick it up from the same spot in a different room
Get PVR functionality from any TV when watching recorded programs – pause, replay, rewind, fast-forward.

To utilize the XBox 360 as a set-top, Optik TV subscribers must have an HD DVR from the telco. In addition, a Telus technician must visit a customer’s home to install the required software and configure each Xbox 360 for the service.

“We are blazing a trail as the first provider in North America to offer this innovative capability with Xbox 360 and Optik TV,” Telus chief marketing officer David Fuller said in a statement. “The integration of the Optik TV service, powered by Microsoft Mediaroom, with the Xbox 360 will deliver increased flexibility and enhance our customers’ entertainment experience.”

Telus launched its fiber-the-node service back in June, and deployed Microsoft Mediaroom in February. To sweeten the deal, Telus is currently offering a free XBox 360 console to customers who subscribe to high-speed Internet with a two-year contract.

The telco currently serves 11.9 million customer connections including 6.6 million wireless subscribers, 3.9 million wireline network access lines, 1.2 million Internet subscribers and 200,000 IPTV and satellite customers.

For more, see this release.

Windows Phone 7 Preview

Kevin McGuire — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:20:24 +0000

While I would love to say we have a review of the developer’s version of Windows Phone 7 , unfortunately we do not. However, we have found several reviews out there if you are interested:

Overall it is getting pretty decent reviews. While most bloggers have suggestions for improvements, it’s not likely it will come out before the fourth quarter, so they still have time to polish it up. I just wonder if MSFT is too late in the game to get any traction.

Microsoft Adding More Entertainment Features to XBox 360

Steve Fravel — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:51:26 +0000

Microsoft Corp. premiered the “Kinect” for Xbox 360 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) amid great fanfare and a live performance by Cirque de Soleil. The Kinect device, known in development as “Project Natal,” ushers in a new era affording “controller free” games and entertainment. In a press release, Microsoft heralded the entry as “transforming the way the world plays, entertains and connects with friends and family.” Kinect for Xbox 360 officially rolls out to consumers in the United States on November 4. Availability in other parts of the world will follow shortly after that date.

The Kinect for Xbox 360 is capable of tracking body movement and gestures and can understand the user’s voice. The Kinect allows those who may have never picked up a game controller to join in. If you see an obsticle, you can jump over it, if you want to pursue a fitness program you can do do it all without having to hold a controller in your hands.

In addition to game control, the Kinect for Xbox 360 allows the user to change to movies, favorite television episodes or music by “voice command and gesture.” You just say “Xbox play” and are able to browse through library selections and choices at the wave of a hand.

Beginning in November, Xbox LIVE GOLD members will have access to ESPN3.com. The user can watch live college basketball or football, MLB, NBA, tennis, golf, soccer and other sporting events.

With Xbox LIVE the user is able to share game experience with friends, family and neighbors around the world. In 2011, Microsoft will add Video Kinect. This will link Microsoft Live Messenger supporting “real-time” video conversations with PC users and other Xbox 360 owners around the world.

Combining gaming, films, television programs and music with social networking truly advances home enteratinment to a new experience level.

For additional information visit Microsoft.

Microsoft’s Translating! Telephone

Kevin McGuire — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:35:50 +0000

The folks over at TechCrunch had an opportunity to visit with Microsoft to get a sneak peak at some of the exciting new technologies they were working on. I thought one was particularly relevant to the rural telephone market- The Translating! Telephone (video after the jump).

The system provides live speech-to-text and speech-to-speech translation of telephone calls. Yes- read that again. I did say “live”. While not perfect, it has a way in which you can validate your intentions, and in a sense learn your speech patterns to become a better translator for you. Oh, and a nifty little side benefit is that it will provide a complete transcript archive in a user’s Exchange mail box so that the conversation can be recalled in the future (wonder what privacy proponents would say about that).

Could this be the thing that helps keep POTS in the home? Doubtful, but perhaps it will make actually talking to people cool again. I hate it when younger family members never answer the phone, but immediately respond to a text.

VOTW: Windows 7

Jesse Ward — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:23:18 +0000

Have you recently seen a funny, entertaining or informational video? The New Edge would love to hear from you. Please send your suggestions for the next “video of the week (VOTW)” to jward@ntca.org and your video might be featured in an upcoming issue.