Verizon Steps in to Fix Microsoft's IPTV

NYGiant writes "Microsoft IPTV isn't cutting it for Verizon, Ars Technica reports, so they've taken over parts of the project. Verizon is in a rush to perfect its IPTV service, which is based on Microsoft's IPTV software. The problem is that to run well, Microsoft's software needs more memory than Verizon's set top boxes ship with. From the article: 'Under the terms of that deal, Verizon would use Microsoft's Foundation Edition middleware stack. Microsoft would also supply a set of customer-facing applications. While Foundation Edition remains in use by Verizon, the development of the other applications was taken over by Verizon engineers.'"

Comments

Re:How much memory does it take to

[Yvan256]

How much memory does it take to display the blue screen of death?

Well, the blue screen of death is in text mode 80x25, I think. That means two bytes for each character (ASCII code + color). That totals up to 80x25x2 bytes = 4000 bytes.

It's only a joke :)

I knew I should've read your post to the end before replying.

Re:Shocked, I say!

[gEvil (beta)]

A perfect example is the number of people that call Internet Explorer "the internet".

Thankfully my kid set me straight on that one. Now I know that the internet is that cute little fox that's on fire.

Re:Regulation Regulation Regulations!

[mpapet]

IPTV is far from a monopoly
Yeah, and that's because the bill giving them the "national overlay" monopoly is still wending it's way through the system. http://telephonyonline.com/regulatory/news/congres s_cable_franchise_030906/
First-movers and whatever is left for cable companies in the States are dead as soon as this one passes.

And then there's:
VOIP Regulated away to the telcos/cable co's. Proverbial toll roads on the internet will be the final nail in the coffin.
CellularIs my service better or cheaper than it was 5 years ago? No. Please explain how they would jam -so- many bits down the average phone connection?
Digital Phone ServiceIs this service better or cheaper than my POTS service? As a former subscriber no. Emphatically no.

I agree they are set to see erosion of their customer base, but I would argue that they aren't meeting competitors in the marketplace, they are meeting them in Washington DC, where they have the money to raise barriers to entry. The average quickie-mart economicthink doesn't apply.