Comcast to Launch ‘X1′ Next Generation TV Service
Posted by Steve Fravel on Thursday, February 16, 2012 · 
In a bold move, Comcast announced earlier this week plans to launch a cloud-based video service called X1 in several markets around the country. The digital service requires a new user interface and allows access to social media such as Facebook, along with several other apps.
Comcast has been testing X1 in Augusta, Georgia, with approximately 1,000 subscribers. Comcast plans to roll out the service initially to several hundred thousand homes. “It will radically improve experience over time, but more importantly, it is creating the unlocking mechanism for future innovation that will then reside on some of the best servers in the cloud,” said Comcast CEO Brian Roberts. He asserted that cloud architecture would eventually allow improvements and new services to be provided to the subscriber, “without ever having to come back to your house.”
Comcast has indicated that X1 will offer a feature new to subscribers called “My TV.” The feature will provide custom viewing and integrated social TV recommendations from Facebook and other social-oriented Web-based networks.
Comcast has not released subscriber rates and fees for X1, but refers to the product as a “high-end” video service.
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