Rumor: Xbox IPTV may not be so grand
by Dustin Burg 
{ Jan 9th 2007 at 1:15AM }
Doug, from the Peoples Republic Of, visited Microsoft's IPTV booth at CES yesterday and got some more dirt on how the Xbox 360 IPTV will work. According to him, he found out that the IPTV service will be available over AT&T's 35Mbps lightspeed service which would allow for 2HD and 2SD channels to run simultaneously. Though the big problem here is that you'd have to replace your current ISP and cable provider to AT&T. And if you don't have access to the lightspeed service, then no IPTV for you! Secondly, you'll need a separate set top box that would work by itself or connected to a 360. So, the 360 still needs a separate set top box to use IPTV. Finally, if you have a home router it will need to be replaced by a special QOS (quality of service) router. Feeling sad yet?Again, this isn't official information from Microsoft, but is information Doug received from Microsoft's IPTV booth at CES. Hopefully things will change before the roll-out, because the whole Xbox 360 IPTV service isn't sounding very good. A separate box? A specific cable and ISP provider? Do you meet the supposed requirements for the Xbox IPTV roll-out and would you be willing to make the necessary changes to get it?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Adam @ Jan 9th 2007 2:00AM
I call fake on this one.. the posted news is too much of a setback for people. How come MS didn't annouce this small, but very important, news yesterday?
Sean @ Jan 9th 2007 1:39AM
I knew you would have to use ATT, but I thought the whole point of this was that the 360 would be the set top. Thats a bummer if not true.
Mike @ Jan 9th 2007 1:51AM
thats just fucked up im just gona watch T.V REGULARLEY fuck that
Logan T. @ Jan 9th 2007 1:54AM
There's no way I'm switching from Verizon FioS internet. Great speed, great price, great service. Can't be beat. I don't see IPTV changing, but I sure hope it does.
Deadpreacher @ Jan 9th 2007 1:59AM
Does IPTV cost more money beyond just haven LIVE!? If i have to pay more monthly than forget it. Don't really care to keep my X360 running more than i have to anyways!
ads @ Jan 9th 2007 2:08AM
Okay.. i haven't watched the keynote yet cause it seems too boring, but can someone tell me if you would be using this new AT&T service for regular internet as well as the IPTV? If i can get 35Mbps just for regular internet as well then hell yeah i'd go through all that. If i watch the keynote will it explain all this?
Logan T..
What's your download speed with your FioS, i'm curious. My cable is at about 6700kbps up and 470 down. Is this comparable to your service?
Phil @ Jan 9th 2007 2:20AM
Wow, If that's true this whole thing with IPTV and the 360 is done.
ads @ Jan 9th 2007 2:26AM
i don't get this at all... how can you possibly have a 35Mbps connection through coax? I thought only FiOS can produce speeds like that, which is basically plugging a CAT-5 into the wall, isn't it? This means that the persons home has to be wired for FiOS prior to getting this.... or am i just thinking WAY too hard about this....?
Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Jan 9th 2007 2:41AM
People need to realize what IPTV is and how it works. This is not some sort of Xbox Live service. You don't need Xbox Live to get it, and your Xbox Live status will not be affected by it one iota. It is a completely seperate service provided by your cable or broadband service company, and it's designed to completely replace your existing pay tv service.
To put it simply, it's Digital Cable, only using Internet technology. That doesn't mean it goes over the Internet, just that it uses the same Internet Protocol technology that your computer uses, hence the "IP". It will go over your broadband service company's private IP network, sort of a mini-Internet run by your broadband company.
Now some FUD control:
First, you won't need AT&T specifically, but you'll need broadband service fast enough to support it through a company that is using the Microsoft IPTV platform. A list of companies is here (http://www.microsoft.com/tv/CustomersAndPartners.mspx - see "customers".) Many of America's biggest Cable and Phone providers are on that list. You'll probably need a minimum of 30-40Mbps downstream broadband service - DSL won't cut it. You'll need to get Fiber installed, or hope your cable company ramps speeds up.
As for the set-top-box and QoS router requirements, those depend on the broadband company's deployment strategy. Verizon will likely not require a QoS router since the ONT terminal it installs on the side of your house already provides QoS. If you need a set-top-box, it will likely be for authentication, so the company knows who you are and what channels you are supposed to get.
But realistically speaking, these companies will know exactly how to handle customers who want to use their 360s as IPTV clients. It is not going to be anywhere near as painful as this blog post makes it sound. The only problem will be getting the right broadband company and service to support it.
Francky @ Jan 9th 2007 3:21AM
hum, I don't get what people are so bummed about ?! This is what I fully understood from what was given so far. Microsoft had said they where working with different Telco companies that would set up local IPTV networks. Obviously this means changing cable provider if the one you have isn't providing IPTV. The only thing I'm surprised with, is the need for a separate Set top box. But again, no biggie, if you wanted to have IPTV you'd have to have a set top box anyways. Now we can just probably get a cheap one and have the XBOX serve as the PVR, instead of getting an expensive IPTV PVR.
I for one can't wait, as my cable distributor is simply horrible (Videotron) and the IPTV service will be offered by it's competitor, which before only offered Satellite dish service (Bell).
Fud Control @ Jan 25th 2007 3:08AM
Doug needs to listen more carefully and watch the demo Microsoft did at CES. Microsoft's IPTV software runs on the Xbox. There is no need for any other hardware to be connected to your TV. You can get rid of the set top box and forget about wasting any money on an iTV that Apple says will play "near DVD" quality video to your TV.
Paul Mendoza @ Jan 9th 2007 3:31AM
What is the point of having the TV go through the 360 then if all of that stuff is required?
Logan T. @ Jan 9th 2007 3:32AM
@ ads
I get 15 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up for $50 (I was paying $65 for 10 down .8 up)
RangerPrimeX @ Jan 9th 2007 4:02AM
Wow, people slow down, sheesh. Thanks Uchendu Nwachukwu for putting in common sense with real links to real info about the OTHER partners Microsoft is working with. This instant speculation on the web and jumping to conclusions is crazy.
I have Fios service and it is awesome. They replaced my router with their own wireless router which works great. I have the IPTV from Verizon but the DVR blows chunks due to the bad interface but the actually quality and price is great. So I would love a better interface from Microsoft. We have almost a YEAR folks to see what they come up with. I look forward to it and will follow real information when they release it.
Joe @ Jan 9th 2007 5:54AM
Who the hell has 35MBPS connections? This will bomb.
Olav @ Jan 9th 2007 5:39AM
Do you think IPTV is YouTube? Of course you need special hardware! You need a special router that can manage all that priority data and send it to the 360.
KineticOnline @ Jan 9th 2007 7:50AM
The IPTV BT in the UK are rolling out only requires a miniumum of 2Mb/s connection but im presuming thats one SD channel.
Problem is they also require you to switch provider (they only do bandwidth limited of between 2GB and 40GB contracts with a minimum 12 or 18 month term) and you have to switch to their router too.
The really bad part is at the minute they only all dvr functions on the non IPTV stations (the free ones you can get with a one off £30 payment)
Sparkstalker @ Jan 9th 2007 8:30AM
"8. i don't get this at all... how can you possibly have a 35Mbps connection through coax? I thought only FiOS can produce speeds like that, which is basically plugging a CAT-5 into the wall, isn't it? This means that the persons home has to be wired for FiOS prior to getting this.... or am i just thinking WAY too hard about this....?"
ads - FiOS is simply the name for Verizon's fiber to the premises service. AT&T's Lightspeed is the same thing.
And I'm right in line with RangerPrimeX - FiOS TV is spectacular, but the set top box menus could use some serious work. If the 360 can give me the same service with a new interface, I'd be a very happy customer.
todd @ Jan 9th 2007 8:47AM
We are getting Litespeed here (NE Ohio) very soon but I don't even have cable TV. I do have the ATT elite DSL which is 6.0 meg down, I'd love to get 35 meg down when they do the switch. I was seriously considering getting IPTV for the 360, but if I have to pay rental on a box for the tv and pay for a new router, blah... in the end all of it will cost more than $80-100 mo, let's just hope they where wrong.
Tendril @ Jan 9th 2007 10:28AM
I am also very suprised that people are acting shocked at this. Also, in the the keynote it was said they were working with 11 other partners either in the testing or evaluation phases. Hopefully more providers will be available than just AT&T when this rolls out.
Scott @ Jan 9th 2007 10:37AM
If you go to AT&T U-verse page, they offer IPTV at 1.5, 3, and 6Mb/s down and 1Mb/s up right now in select markets.
You only get 1 HD stream with that though.
Aaron @ Jan 9th 2007 10:13AM
IPTV is the future of television, maybe not today or tomorrow but at some point in the next 5-7 years all cable television is going to be delivered to your house in this fashion. Maybe through coax, maybe phone, maybe fiber, maybe some wireless type solution, who knows.
The 360 IPTV solution is jus the first step. It may be messy and it may not deliver everything we all want at a price we're initially willing to pay, but it has to start somewhere.
The early adopters who really want this and are willing to live with the headaches and pay the price, will pave the way for everyone else, just like every new technology.
But, also remember that IPTV will allow advertisers to easily tailor ads specifically to your house/family. There are billions of dollars to be made and this revenue stream for the providers of IPTV should lower the cost as more and more consumers adopt this technology.
mietha CAG @ Jan 9th 2007 10:17AM
No, I would not be willing to change, especially since I detest cable and have been using Directv for almost 10 years. Besides, AT&T's customer service was shit way before everyone else's was too. I seriously doubt it has improved. As an aside, isn't the term "set-top box" a little outdated? Don't far too many people have LCDs and plasmas to still be using that term? To be honest, I never really expected much from this service, so I'm not let down. Hopefully it will still result in a larger hard drive, but with a second box being required, that is no longer even a guarentee.
MaX PL @ Jan 9th 2007 11:55AM
i call fake just because this guy claims AT&T will be the only company to support it. obviously not all parts of the world have AT&T, and MS has already stated you theyre working with various partners.
also, the 35mbps requirement is BS as well. FIOS and some of the high end cable connections like my 15/2 Optimum Online are more than enough to run an HD channel. also, by the time IPTV rolls around, expect all ISPs to further increase the level of their service. in fact, Cablevision is rolling out an Optimum Online sevice of 50/50 soon, and they already have a Boost service offering 30/5.
Hoffer @ Jan 9th 2007 12:33PM
This seperate box could maybe be a new hard drive attachment. It could have both a bigger HD and whatever is needed for IPTV.
Just an idea.
Alice Unchained @ Jan 9th 2007 12:39PM
Fuck no.
VampireHunter Z @ Jan 9th 2007 3:13PM
That 35Mbps sounds interesting considering I'm using Verizon DSL and I'm not comfortable hosting a game. I've never heard of AT&T's IP service before so I'm not sure what locations it will be available. I don't like the idea of another set top box though. Just give me that connection speed for a decent price.
Raydahz @ Jan 9th 2007 4:19PM
I have Verizon FiOS. I couldn't be any more excited for this!
If you don't have it, you should. Plain and simple. If it's not available, it will be soon. Start saving.
Thanks for the info Uchendu Nwachukwu!
I'm only worried about the 360 overheating because it will be on almost 24/7 at my house when we get this hooked up. I'm not sure if it gets more pimp than this.
Russ @ Jan 9th 2007 5:03PM
Think if IPTV as just the phone companies new attempt to compete with cable and satellite. Phone companies can't be profitable on just voice any longer so they are moving to whole packages such as Internet/phone and now video using IPTV. To get IPTV you DO need a dedicated network assuming you want quality, multi-channel, switch channel on demand video similar to what you get with cable. A fast cable connection can give you maybe one quality SD stream or choppy HD stream but forget competing with cable or sattelite.
IPTV with the 360 just allows your 360 to function as a remote "settop extender" if you will. A 360 can't do what a normal settop can do (trust me, I design the chips that go into settops so I know a little about how much silicon power is required) but it definitely can receive a stream and decode it, while adding some nifty 360 only functionality such as "talk to your friends over live while watching" or "see what your friend are watching and give them a game invite in the middle".
I'm guessing that the 360 should be able to pull off the hard drive or receive a live stream from the "master settop" that you get with your IPTV service. The whole point it that instead of renting a second or third box from the IPTV provider you can go ahead and use your 360 as a remote box and additionally get some cool 360 only features with it.
Mark @ Jan 11th 2007 2:19PM
If true, the really funny thing here is Comcast has a virtual monopoly in the Seattle area, so very few Microsoft employees would be able to sign up for the service. You'd think they'd at least negotiate an agreement with a local cable provider!