Text 15692, 120 rader
Skriven 2007-01-27 12:44:20 av Rich Gauszka (1:379/45)
  Kommentar till text 15691 av mike (1:379/45)
Ärende: Re: Microsoft blamed for AT&T TV hiccups
================================================
From: "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka@dontspamhotmail.com>

Leichtman did say the first blame was to AT&T for choosing Microsoft.

I wonder how stable/final the Microsoft Xbox 360 IPTV software that was shown
at CES is? -apart from the fact that all the 360 has is a puny 20 gig drive and
they're talking pvr functionality


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."

"mike" <mike@barkto.com> wrote in message
news:mn1nr2hdm7a981a2v72073q8m7te4ecea0@4ax.com...
>
> Of course, Leichtman, with his ties to the cable TV industry, would give
> an unbiased viewpoint of the AT&T attempt to compete with the cable
> industry.   Think: Rob Enderle.
>
> Microsoft's IPTV product has a history of over-promising and
> under-delivering. (Microsoft itself has a history of over-promising and
> under-delivering, just look at Vista. But I digress....)  Deployments
> have been hit with delay after delay.  The current AT&T delay is quite
> consistent with Microsoft IPTV's past deployment behavior.
>
> Microsoft's "confidence" that their software platform is "on track"
> (notice he did not say "working") hardly counters what the Wall Street
> Journal reported.
>
>
>
> /m
>
>
> On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 10:42:25 -0500, "Rich Gauszka"
> <gauszka@dontspamhotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>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%
99s+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.
>>
>>

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5
 * Origin: Barktopia BBS Site http://HarborWebs.com:8081 (1:379/45)