http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/12/microsoft-iptv-makes-its-way-to-europe/ Engadget Comments for Microsoft IPTV makes its way to France http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/12/microsoft-iptv-makes-its-way-to-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/12/microsoft-iptv-makes-its-way-to-europe/Jun 12th 2006 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/06/12/microsoft-iptv-makes-its-way-to-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/12/microsoft-iptv-makes-its-way-to-europe/Jun 13th 2006 12:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/06/12/microsoft-iptv-makes-its-way-to-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/12/microsoft-iptv-makes-its-way-to-europe/
EVERYONE else has been doing digital TV-over-DSL. For YEARS. Everyone pretty much copies Free these days, although Neuf/Cegetel is a little less "me too" and a little more genuinely innovative these days.

Standard features today in the French market: boundless IP (to the limits of ADSL 2+ so far -- sucks compared to downtown Seoul or Tokyo, but that's where we're at) [yes it's typically reasonably overcommitted]; free landline (not metered except to really remote international locations, and to local mobiles); lots of TV channels (basically same SD signal as DVB-T when possible, a few HDTV channels now starting), a bunch free and some by subscription (more advanced providers, like Free, let you watch on both TV and over your LAN using vlc. You can also stream content from your computer to the TV if you like. Yep, HDMI outputs now. Got enough bandwith? Yep, multiple channels if you want. Last but not least, providers are massively turning the "boxes" into hotspots ANY of their subcribers can use for the purpose of placing and receiving SIP phone calls. At the same cost (none) as the landline. Last development is that Orange and Free contemplate a free cross-provider roaming agreement. Basically let your subscribers handle your blanket deployment, everyone wins.

Oh and the price? typically 30€/month, some manage to make a living charging 45€/month for all that stuff. Charge more and you're dead. Let's see what kind of pricing the CI/MS venture yields (but yeah, for sure, Club Internet is kinda desperate these days).
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So, Club Internet could be in a good position to attract a new generation of DSL TV viewers who are very sensitive to ease of use. I wouldn't count them out based only on their offering. What could damage their ability to grow market share is their poor visibility, brand value and existing market share. Microsoft's endorsement won't help much unless they put a lot of marketing bucks in demand generation.]]>Jun 17th 2006 1:18PM