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Microsoft strikes deal with 24/7, promises to 'redefine' customer service
A partnership between Microsoft and customer service company 24/7 may not exactly sound like the most exciting proposition on the face of things, but the two are making some fairly lofty promises, and Microsoft seems to be making a serious investment in the initiative. As ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reports, part of the deal will see Microsoft send at least some of the 400 employees it brought on in its 2007 acquisition of TellMe Networks to 24/7, and it will also license some of its speech-related IP to the company (in addition to taking an equity stake in it). The goal there being to combine natural user interfaces with a cloud-based customer service platform, which Microsoft promises will "redefine what customer service looks like." To that end, it gives the example of a credit card company getting in touch with you to report suspicious behavior; rather than a phone call, you could get a notification with all the pertinent details sent directly to your phone, which could anticipate a number of potential actions and let you respond by voice (or touch, presumably). Unfortunately, while the two are talking plenty about the future of customer service, there's not a lot of word as to when that might arrive.
Comcast launches its own 24/7 Xfinity 3D channel, crosses 1 million 3D VOD views
After DirecTV, Comcast has been among the most aggressive in pushing 3D programming, so it's no surprise to receive word it's begun scheduling round-the-clock 3D content on the Xfinity 3D channel just days after DirecTV launched 3net alongside ESPN 3D and its own n3D network. While viewers can tune in to see what's playing (mostly some documentaries and varied computer animated content) right now, the official kick off comes this weekend on February 20th when it airs the 2011 Tim Horton's Classic outdoor NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames, followed closely by a Kings of Leon concert in Germany presented from MTV's library. After early 2010 featured a sparse lineup of one-off 3D events it looks like the channel guide is at least starting to fill up -- as to whether or not anyone is watching, Comcast also announced it's served up over 1 million views of 3D shows and movies over video on-demand with more sports, music and movies to come.
Sony, Discovery and IMAX 3D channel dubbed 3net, adds a little more content before launch
Still without an exact release date, the 24/7 3D channel from Sony, IMAX and Discovery at least has a name now: 3net. It promises "the world's largest library of native 3D content" when it launches early this year and also had a few new selections -- Hubble 3D, In the Qube 3D and Wildebeest Migration -- to announce during Sony's presser yesterday. The press release is after the break but until there's a launch date announced the one detail we're really waiting for just won't be found.
Sony, IMAX & Discovery bringing 24/7 3D home first in 2011
Since it was one of the first to launch 24/7 HD broadcasting with Discovery HD Theater, it only makes sense Discovery is blazing the 3D path, helped along by Sony and IMAX. The bad news? This three way venture won't be coming home until 2011, well after ESPN kicks off part time broadcasting and, in our opinion, leaving a wide window if a certain Dallas-based billionare wants to launch his own channel -- we're thinking "3DNet" could be a good name. C'mon Mark, you know you want to. Check the PR after the break for details, although there's no word on which documentaries we'll be seeing looped day after day (and, if our experience with HD Theater is any indication, will still be amazed by even the 50th time.)
Codename soup: AT&T eyeing Samsung's Fluxus, Pilar, and Scotney
Have you ever heard three stranger codenames? We're sure they're all changing prior to launch -- which is a shame, really, because we'd be totally down to buy a "Samsung Fluxus." Speaking of the Fluxus, it's a dual-band HSDPA slider that looks vaguely like the Tocco Ultra Edition, but the similarity's only skin-deep because the Fluxus is a non-touchscreen WQVGA device with a measly 2 megapixel camera, which means you won't see TouchWiz here, either. Moving on, the Scotney looks like a slightly lower-end device with similar specs, the one major change being the downgrade from WQVGA to 220 x 176. Finally, the SGH-A247 Pilar is an ultra low-end EDGE-only slider with a VGA cam, likely destined for GoPhone duty. It's actually late -- it had been targeted for April availability, according to our slide -- while the Fluxus and Scotney are looking at dates closer to fall.
