Time for Microsoft to Deliver
December 2006
Microsoft’s software deployments are starting to become commercial. Deutsche Telekom and Swisscom started their service in October 2006 and BT started its service in December 2006. AT&T’s service started in June 2006, but did not start to scale until the end of November 2006.
In addition, Verizon had to develop its own software (instead of using Microsoft’s) to support advanced functions such as whole home PVR in its FiOS TV FTTP IPTV service. Verizon uses Microsoft’s middleware for cable companies to manage channel selection. Since Verizon uses a cable like RF architecture for delivering broadcast channels, it does not use the same Microsoft IPTV Edition software that Deutsche Telekom, Swisscom, BT and AT&T do.
2007 will show how well Microsoft’s software operates. The first clue will be whether or not AT&T expands its IPTV service to 10 or more additional markets by the end of 2006, as it had previously promised. The real test will be to see the rate at which these services add subscribers. If these four IPTV services have 100 or 200 thousand subscribers between them by the middle of 2007, then Microsoft will be on its way. If not, then Microsoft may well see its market position slip.
For more information, consult our: MRG, Inc., December 2006 IPTV Bulletin
Alcatel/Lucent Merged
December 2006
The Alcatel/Lucent merger completed with the resulting companying being called Alcatel-Lucent. The logo itself is the letter L and the letter A mapped into an infinity sign.
Serge Tchuruk of Alcatel will be the Chairman of the Board and Pat Russo of Lucent will be the company’s CEO. The company stated that it will be the number one company in wireline, number three in mobile systems, and in the top three in applications and services. In the presentation it highlight its leading position in IPTV.
Alcatel-Lucent is the number one company in IPTV access systems, both globally and in Europe. It should be able to maintain that position.
It will be interesting to watch the Microsoft relationship. We believe that problems with Microsoft’s software have put a strain on this relationship. Alcatel’s recent video-on-demand patent suits against Microsoft is another sign of this strain. {Note: analyst comments are italicized}
For more information, consult our: MRG, Inc., December 2006 IPTV Bulletin
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