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AT&T introduces IPTV and hybrid broadband-satellite TV services; Tatung set-tops are used initially San Antonio, Texas is the first commercial market for AT&T’s much anticipated U-verse offering. Where U-verse is not available, AT&T is offering Homezone, with EchoStar satellite TV and Akimbo VOD
In late June, AT&T launched its U-verse IPTV service. About two weeks later, the operator added Homezone, a consumer broadband service that is bundled with direct broadcast satellite TV. At launch, the U-verse IPTV service consisted of standard-definition TV, delivered to PVR-capable set-top boxes over AT&T’s Project Lightspeed network, using the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition. Three live TV bundles are available, along with VOD. U-verse is also bundled with AT&T Yahoo! high-speed Internet service. The delivery infrastructure is HDTV-capable and HDTV is planned. Initial U-verse consumers are receiving TISNet STB5000 IPTV set-top boxes from Tatung, which utilize the Intel 854 processing platform and supports one TV. The operator will also begin to provide Motorola VIPseries and Scientific Atlanta IPN-series set-top boxes as they become available. Those product lines have single-TV and three-TV versions. Both are designed to use the Sigma Designs SMP8634 chip while Scientific Atlanta’s can also accommodate the STMicroelectronics STB7109 processor. Microsoft has worked closely with these chip suppliers for several years. AT&T’s Homezone service is designed to provide consumers with a set of services similar to U-verse, in areas where U-verse is not available. It also initially became available in San Antonio, as well as in Ohio. Homezone uses a hybrid broadband-satellite TV set-top box from 2Wire. Broadband Internet service is through AT&T’s partnership with Yahoo!, while standard-definition TV comes from EchoStar Communications, provider of the Dish Network satellite service. Movie downloads are available from Movielink. Homezone is also adding the Akimbo VOD service later in 2006. Report: Steve Hawley |
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