T-Online France using Microsoft TV for its IPTV roll-out later this month

June 9th, 2006 - Club Internet (T-Online France), the French ISP that is part of Deutsche Telekom Group, will use Microsoft TV for its new digital TV service, which is due to launch this month.

The company is expanding its TV on the Web offer to include true IPTV (ie video delivered over a private, managed IP network to the television) as part of a triple-play offer. The set-top box from Linksys (part of Cisco) incorporates a hard disk and is HDTV and DTT-ready. Club Internet will offer a full VOD and subscription VOD service of around 1,000 programmes.

According to Microsoft, its software platform will support instant channel change, Picture-in-Picture (PiP) functionality (so viewers can watch two programmes simultaneously, bandwidth permitting), and DVR functionality.

The programme guide looks two weeks ahead and the entire library of content can be searched by programme or even actor name while viewers continue to watch their current programme.

“We are delighted with our alliance with Microsoft TV," declares Marie-Christine Levet, president of Club Internet/T-Online France. "Equipped with 1,000 VOD and SVOD programmes and 150 TV programmes, Club Internet television service will provide the consumer with real added value thanks to its user-friendly interface. With this new generation of digital television, Club Internet is revolutionising IPTV and inventing television on demand."

Christine Heckart, general manager of marketing for Microsoft TV, says: “Microsoft and Club Internet are helping to create a revolution in TV entertainment for consumers across France. Club Internet can combine its experience in pioneering innovative Internet services with the power of next-generation IPTV technologies to deliver unique TV and communications services that are truly integrated."

Microsoft has a strong relationship with the Deutsche Telekom Group for television services. Deutsche Telekom in Germany has already selected the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition middleware for its domestic IPTV deployment, expected later this summer.