Microsoft Rebrands IPTV

Microsoft introduced a new version of its IPTV system and changed its name to Mediaroom. The new version includes digital terrestrial support (required by BT Vision) along with:

• Personal media sharing to easily listen to digital music and view digital photographs stored on PCs elsewhere in the home on the TV.
• Multimedia Application Environment provides support for web services and applications, such as video-on-demand portals, casual games and interactive TV services.
• Enhanced MultiView capabilities to see multiple channels, programs and camera angles on one screen

These are nice additions but none of them is groundbreaking. Microsoft's problem is to show that it can scale and support large numbers of subscribers. It appears to be doing well at Swisscom. ATT, BT, and Deutsche Telekom are its proof cases.