Text 15690, 123 rader
Skriven 2007-01-27 10:42:24 av Rich Gauszka (1:379/45)
  Kommentar till text 15688 av mike (1:379/45)
Ärende: Re: Microsoft blamed for AT&T TV hiccups
================================================
From: "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka@dontspamhotmail.com>

A different view

Although it looks like both AT&T's and Microsoft's priorities are similar (
consumer at the bottom)

http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=20970&hed=Is+Microsoft+AT%26T%E2%80%99
s+Scapegoat%3F&sector=Industries&subsector=Communications

At least one analyst believes that AT&T might be using Microsoft as a scapegoat
for extended delays in its highly anticipated and expensive rollout of IPTV
services.



AT&T CFO Rick Lindner was quoted in The Wall Street Journal on Friday as saying
that problems with Microsoft's IPTV set-top boxes slowed the rollout of AT&T's
IPTV service, known as U-verse, which is still in its infancy, while Verizon
Communications' TV rollout is much further ahead.



But Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research
Group, believes that AT&T is passing the buck for its own poor judgment, and
perhaps its unrealistic expectations.



"I am very skeptical of how large a factor Microsoft's set-top box was in the
slow process of AT&T's video rollout," said Mr. Leichtman. "It is very
convenient to pin the blame on a big name like Microsoft, rather than taking
the ultimate responsibility



Mr. Leichtman also questions AT&T's desire in the IPTV arena.



"During their fourth-quarter call yesterday AT&T listed its five priorities,
and consumer and rollout of U-verse were at the bottom," he said. "Consumer is
not their No. 1 priority and neither is video, nor should it be. Microsoft may
be a factor in the delay but so is AT&T's desire."



AT&T's announced priorities in descending order were: wireless, enterprise,
small and medium businesses, consumer, and video (see AT&T Edges Past
Estimates).



"In these kinds of new deployments there is rarely one thing to blame," Mr.
Leichtman said. "AT&T chose to go with Microsoft, a neophyte at set-top box
technology, rather than Scientific-Atlanta or Motorola, so the first round of
blame should be laid there."



AT&T did not provide a promised interview by press time. A Microsoft
representative said the company's IPTV carrier customers worldwide were already
delivering a better experience than other premium pay TV services.



"We are confident that the Microsoft IPTV software platform is on track to help
these customers redefine the way consumers experience TV and enable them to
successfully deploy a highly competitive new TV service," said Microsoft TV
spokesperson Jim Brady.



"mike" <mike@barkto.com> wrote in message
news:rfpmr256n7fi85ouljbqfc98jetkm8atal@4ax.com...
>
> http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37231
>
> ===
> IPTV software slows going
>
> By Martin Veitch: Friday 26 January 2007, 12:08
> SOFTWARE FIRM Microsoft is getting it in the eye from AT&T over slow
> rollout of the latter's IPTV service.
>
> The Wall Street Journal this morning quotes Ma Bell CFO Rick Lindner as
> saying the company had decided not to heavily market the U-verse service
> because of limited deployment capacity caused by problems with Microsoft
> IPTV Edition software that controls programme guides, video recording
> and on-demand services.
>
> Last year, the Journal reported that Verizon had taken over some
> development work from Microsoft after becoming "frustrated" with its
> work.
>
> Microsoft has a spotty history on the gogglebox. In 1997 it spent about
> $425m to purchase WebTV Networks but failed to make the much-hyped
> phenomenon a success. Its latest effort centre on IPTV services via the
> Xbox 360 and Media Centre PCs. æ
> ===
>
>
> Microsoft's IPTV software has been one fiasco after another as Microsoft
> struggles to get working software out the door.  Microsoft's software
> development ineptitude is so bad (think how long it took to get a
> barely-working Vista out the door) is so bad that the WSJ reported a
> frustrated Verizon had to help Microsft get IPTV working.
>
> Now AT&T's CFO is saying that the shortcomings of a key strategic weapon
> in AT&T's battle against the cable networks' foray into the powerful
> tri-market (telephone, TV, internet) is limiting their ability to go
> into battle to retain their falling marketshare.
>
> How long will it be before these corporatations start to realize that
> partnering with Microsoft is not the benefit they think it to be?
>
> /m
>
>
>

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