CES: The Xbox 360 to get IPTV in '07, ships 10.4mil consoles

27 Comments by Christopher Grant Jan 7th 2007 10:08PM
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, CES

Bill Gates and Robbie Bach are taking the stage at the annual CES keynote, eager to share ~~all the secrets~~ everything they have in store for us in '07. As leaked, Microsoft is touting 10.4 million Xbox 360 systems shipped to date as well as introducing IPTV services for the erstwhile gaming console. With "strong demand" for the HD-DVD drive and brisk sales from the Xbox Live Video Marketplace, the ability to stream television straight to the 'box brings the erstwhile gaming platform closer and closer to the mythical convergence box they've envisioned from the beginning.

While mythical, IPTV inclusion wasn't a mystery. Last year a Microsoft exec said IPTV on the Xbox 360 was a "fair bet" and Engadget asked Gates directly about IPTV on the 360. With significant investment in IPTV already, bringing that functionality to the Xbox 360 was an obvious move for Microsoft. Some of the functionality of their offering will include:

"digital video recording capabilities" for gaming, movie viewing, and even voice and video chat -- we're really gonna need a bigger hard drive
Live chat while watching television -- we're so going to watch Lost with out friends. "I totally knew that was going to happen!"
Play on Xbox Live while recording television live in the background

Hold your horses! IPTV on Xbox 360 won't be available until "holiday season 2007." Even then, you'll need to be in a market "deploying TV services based on the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform." Right now, we've got a lot more questions than we've got answers. Check Engadget for live coverage of the keynote for the announcements, happening now.

Tags: IPTV

Source

(Page 1) Reader Comments

alexanderwales: Jan 7th 2007; 10:15PM

I love that photo, because if the 360 could speak, that's exactly how it would sound.

hellacool1223: Jan 7th 2007; 10:15PM

That number of 10.4 units is definitely shipped, at least according to Gamasutra as well as ABC news.

C. Grant: Jan 7th 2007; 10:27PM

Updated, thanks hellacool1223.

twism10000: Jan 7th 2007; 10:43PM

Its SHIPPED, not SOLD. Yeah yeah Sony FanBoyz. I said it for you so type something else. Loser.

Karttikeya: Jan 7th 2007; 10:50PM

Robbie Bach said "SOLD". I'm watching it Live right now.

http://www.microsoft.com/events/executives/billgates.mspx

Jmoney: Jan 7th 2007; 10:51PM

Didnt Robbie Bach said it was SOLD? I'm pretty sure that's what he said since i just saw the keynote....

TheDoomer: Jan 7th 2007; 10:53PM

Is this IPTV going to be in a firmware update or something like that? Or would a new 360 system needed to be purchased. Cause I'm planning to buy my first 360 sometime next month.

Jake G: Jan 7th 2007; 10:58PM

7:32 - Video ended. "Games for Windows is a growing market. But of course, while leading platform, our 2nd is Xbox 360. We've become the leader in this next gen. We've sold 10.4 million consoles in 37 countries."
engadget says Sold not shipped

a robot: Jan 7th 2007; 11:04PM

You're the man now, dog!

Leto: Jan 7th 2007; 11:06PM

They said SOLD, not shipped.

Jonias: Jan 7th 2007; 11:08PM

It is shipped, they didn't say sold to customers, as they can't track those sales through 37 countries.

When they say sold, sold to retailers is considered - that's sold to Microsoft as far as they're concerned. Same with Sony.

Moe Benz: Jan 7th 2007; 11:09PM

Here is video evidence for the Xbox 360 IPTV service:

http://on10.net/Blogs/tina/you-heard...arbon-is-real/

Can't wait!!!

Moe Benz: Jan 7th 2007; 11:11PM

Edit:

http://on10.net/Blogs/tina/you-heard-it-people-carbon-is-real/

J. McNair: Jan 7th 2007; 11:24PM

1. IPTV has to be a "firmware" update, just because they have multiple providers, each with different networks.

2. They didn't announce the revised XBox360 (bigger hard drive, better chips, quieter DVD drive, HDMI). I am rather disappointed, but I still expect it to come as the arrival date of IPTV services gets closer. I mean, there's no POINT in having HD video functionality with a hard drive smaller than 100 GB.

3. Still no web browser? Come on, guys, one of the most fun things to do with Wii and PS3 is watching silly Youtube videos on your TV.

4. Wonder if XBL Windows will bring Gamerscores and Achievements?

5. Is the XBox Core system dead yet?

syco: Jan 7th 2007; 11:36PM

McNair, web browsing is allready quirky without a keyboard, I can't imagine it without the Wiimote. Also, IE is terrible. Thus, Microsoft need not worry about it, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I don't have a 360 yet, but we're only talking hypothetically anyway...

Leto: Jan 7th 2007; 11:42PM

So does this mean that when Nintendo says they sold so and so units, they actually mean sold to retailers rather than customers?

Virtua Fanboy: Jan 7th 2007; 11:47PM

I think that something most of the "bigger hard drive" whiners (no offense) don't realize is that all of this video is going to saved onto your computer hdd not your xbox hdd.

Paul Gale: Jan 8th 2007; 2:37AM

Congratulations to Microsoft on shipping 10.4 million Xbox 360's in just a bit over a year; impressive. It'll be interesting to see how long does it take Nintendo and Sony to reach that mark.
Paul Gale
1up.com

Tim J.: Jan 8th 2007; 3:57AM

SOLD. How come soo many people are determined to think its shipped. And whats the big difference, either way its still close to 10 million more than sony

J.Goodwin: Jan 8th 2007; 5:18AM

You're not going to need a bigger hard drive, you'll be wanting a Home Server instead. Check that out man. I drool.

Steve: Jan 8th 2007; 6:03AM

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jan07/01-07CES2007PR.mspx

MS have SOLD 10.4Mil, not shipped.

The IPTV thing looks great. As mentioned in the live stream BT are working with MS on it. They already have a box out using MS's IPTV software so it will be awesome when the 360 links in to it.

Michael Urlocker: Jan 8th 2007; 7:02AM

Here's the new tune from gamers at CES: Guns are out and Guitars are in. The Xbox Live system might take advantage of this by enabling interactive music downloads. But the Wii looks like the next leader.

Look at the surprising success of the new Guitar Hero II game on the old PS2 platform. This looks like a disruptive new technology because it extends the life of old songs and creates new demand in a new game category.

Details:
http://www.ondisruption.com/my_weblog/2007/01/guitar_hero_dis.html

Edwin DeJesus: Jan 8th 2007; 8:56AM

REGARDLESS, SHIPPED=SOLD FOR MS.

Darkness: Jan 8th 2007; 9:40AM

There is no way that's 10.4 million sold to consumers. That's sold to retailers. I don't think there is any of us who has not seen piles of 360s sitting around. If you know anything about retail, then you know that Microsoft sells to the retailers and they sell it to you at MSRP. Microsoft has already gotten their cut, and so has Sony. If those units don't sell, then the retailers are stuck with the product.

Good for Microsoft for getting that many units out the door, but we'll see how well it holds up over the course of the year.

baby sea tuna: Jan 8th 2007; 9:51AM

#14: "Still no web browser? Come on, guys, one of the most fun things to do with Wii and PS3 is watching silly Youtube videos on your TV."

You've pretty much nailed why 360 doesn't need a web browser, most fun thing you can do with your 360 is play some awesome games...whereas once you've finished up Resistance and Zelda, there's not a whole hell of a lot to do with the other consoles than watch Youtube vids.

Jmoney: Jan 8th 2007; 1:13PM

"We've Sold 10.4 million consoles in 37 countries."
From ur link of live coverage at 7:32.....U might wanna fix that title Chris before the Sony fanboys come in...

meh..: Jan 11th 2007; 1:30AM

Do you think the Zune Marketplace will be affected by this? I do. It opens up a lot of possibilities to expand upon their service for all their products

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