Telus switching Canadian IPTV customers over to Microsoft Mediaroom
By Richard Lawler 
posted February 5th 2010 10:11PM
posted February 5th 2010 10:11PM
That $600 million investment appears to be going to good use, as Telus is ready to offer a new version of its Telus TV service to customers powered by Microsoft Mediaroom. No word on which version of Microsoft's IPTV offering they'll be utilizing, but customers in British Columbia and Alberta will be enjoying very U-verseish features like a whole home DVR solution capable of recording up to three shows at once. They'll also enjoy the more than 40 HD channels plus VOD and PPV up to six TVs in each home (no word on how many HDTV streams are available at once, only "multiple.") The switch from the old Minerva platform mirrors the move SureWest made last year, lets hope the long wait means they can jump directly to version 2.0 with Media Center and Xbox support included.[Thanks, Eric]
Is there any part of life that MS isn't going to control?
@nrb They are a software company. Software is part of everything these days. Why shouldn't they want a piece of it all?
I read about this tonight and am switching my service over to Telus tomorrow.
Mediaroom is good stuff. I wish I could get it around here.
Wow, I would love to see their hardware and GUI. But that service is very tempting, I have about $1500 in hardware from Shaw and that sounds so appealing I may have to look at a switch.
@walljordan
You've already seen the GUI--it's the Microsoft Mediaroom software already seen on Engadget in the past.
The gateway is a D-Link DVA3810, with a mix of DVR and non-DVR STBs (apparently including Scientific Atlanta boxes from the regular cable service with just a software update). Nothing terribly exciting hardware-wise. All it has to do is be able to run the Microsoft software and decode video, since there's no need for a traditional tuner.
Alright, I've read the official Mediaroom description and still don't have a clear understanding of it. It's T.V. service offered by Microsoft? Could someone help me out and dummy it down for me? Thanks.
@SaggyBalls
It's a service type for providers. ATT U-verse uses this in the USA. It's IP based so it runs over an IP network.
@PeterFnet
Ahhhh, I got it now. Thanks Peter.
Does the Telus offering involve fiber to the door?I can't get it where I live in Alberta yet, but it sure sounds interesting. (I lived in Portland Oregon for a while and really miss my FIOS)