Microsoft: IPTV not a part of Xbox Live Fall Update

by Ross Miller { Oct 29th 2007 at 6:32PM }

Turns out those images of an Xbox 360 with IPTV were legit. In a statement issued by Microsoft, the Redmond-based company acknowledged that the IPTV features "were inadvertently exposed while the customer's console was being serviced and is unrelated to the Fall Update."

The IPTV features, according to the statement, are part of the Microsoft Mediaroom services and will be made available to service providers by the end of this year, adding that it will be up to them to decide when the service is deployed. We've posted Microsoft's complete statement after the break.

"Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) features will only be available from the Xbox 360 through a service provider who has deployed Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV) services. This was an isolated incident where these features were inadvertently exposed while the customer's console was being serviced and is unrelated to the Fall Update. Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV), will be available to service providers by the end of the year. Microsoft's IPTV service providers will ultimately determine the timing of Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom deployments."

Tags: Dashboard-Update, Fall-Update, iptv, microsoft, Video, Xbox-IPTV

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

EihBeir @ Oct 29th 2007 6:43PM

How many people have 4GB free on their HD on a regular basis? Not I... I'm a whore for demos.

kinshadow @ Oct 29th 2007 6:54PM

My guess is that if you can afford fiber to the home for IPTV, then you can afford the 120GB HDD.

rv @ Oct 29th 2007 7:04PM

It used to be that way. I won't need them when cod4, mass effect, and assassins creed come out.

I dont think I will be able to get this, though. I have a fiber optic connection, however I have a wireless network, and my speed sucks over it.

UnnDunn @ Oct 29th 2007 7:46PM

Lots of disk space is not required to use Mediaroom IPTV; it's only required if you want DVR functionality. Mediaroom will function just fine with a memory unit (or with no storage at all), but you won't get DVR.

todd @ Oct 29th 2007 8:47PM

ATT is installing the fiber not the homeowner, had it for a month, the fiber (ATT->switches) to copper (switches->houses) was getting 30+ mb per sec on my connection. They are eventually doing all fiber to the house in a few years and should go to 100mb per sec... hopefully the pricing will come down for the service considering I dont have any cable now and get all my HD from the airwaves for free.

brad77 @ Oct 29th 2007 9:38PM

@rv: If you don't want to run cable, you might want to look into a powerline network. I recently had the same problem after moving into a new apartment, and have just started using these:

http://tinyurl.com/23u2y3

A little pricey, but preferable to spending my weekend running Cat-5/6. According to CNET, they should have enough bandwidth for at least two concurrent HD streams.

The Boo @ Oct 31st 2007 5:30PM

Our tax dollars have already paid for fiber optic but the cable companies horded the money and never followed through with it. Maybe it was the telephone companies... can't remember. Either way, THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!

whookid @ Oct 29th 2007 6:49PM

Hmmm. sounds like microsoft have yet another 360 package planned.

Espiox @ Oct 29th 2007 6:57PM

The IPTV software will be available to all Xbox 360 owners (be it Core/Arcade, Premium or Elite). The main factor here though is that your ISP has to be an IPTV carrier to be able to use the service. In the UK, that means BT right now. Not sure about other countries though.

Espiox @ Oct 29th 2007 6:52PM

Well, judging from that screenshot right there, the IPTV/Mediaroom software is a separate installation from the main dash (similar to backwards compatability and the HD-DVD player software), so I'm not surprised.

Anyway, it's almost the end of October. Surely we should have seen a leaked list of the Fall update features by now? At this rate, Microsoft will be announcing it in December and we'll get it in January.

Triforceowner @ Oct 29th 2007 6:55PM

Now that my library is substantial, I no longer need more than one demo. I will definitely take advantage of this if it works with my setup and all.

DOCC OCC @ Oct 29th 2007 6:55PM

When is the dang fall update coming out it's almost winter.

Emperor Samoth @ Oct 29th 2007 7:00PM

It seemed too good to be true. Killjoy.

Ed @ Oct 29th 2007 7:18PM

So no Doctor Who?

Pat @ Oct 29th 2007 7:43PM

So what actually is part of the fall dashboard update??

Hal @ Oct 29th 2007 7:47PM

Took the words right out of my mouth. I believe Clan stuff... but that wasn't confirmed yet either...

Kenban @ Oct 29th 2007 8:24PM

If I remember right the only people using Microsoft TV in the US is Verizon's FIOS service. So unless you have FIOS and get IPTV from them this would be useless for you anyways. Although once this is finally released Verizon can supply xbox 360's to be used as set top boxes and they act as a DVR for the service.

Koolkid1935 @ Oct 30th 2007 12:16PM

AT&T's U-verse is also using Microsoft's IPTV platform.

I am sure you are right about FiOS, but their entire channel lineup isn't IPTV if I remember correctly. Some channels (most likely the locals) are using standard RF from the ONT I think...

todd @ Oct 29th 2007 8:43PM

Too bad, iptv/uverse on the 360 might get me to buy cable, the wait is on... kinda waiting on the phone Uverse to kick in anyhow here and see what package ATT will do with wireless, uverse, local/long, internet.

Easo @ Oct 29th 2007 10:28PM

"My guess is that if you can afford fiber to the home for IPTV, then you can afford the 120GB HDD."

I have verizon fios and it cost me less than 100 dollars for the installation once they brought it to my area. Now I pay less monthly than I did when I had comcast.

killr_klown @ Oct 30th 2007 4:15AM

service provider = even more monthly fees

Koolkid1935 @ Oct 30th 2007 11:55AM

The way they make it sound, the provider will give us a 360 to use...I hope that isn't the case because then there will be a substantial rental fee involved I am sure. Even if we don't have to rent a 360, will still be a fee for an additional STB?

I already have U-verse which uses Microsoft's IPTV platform. The only thing is, will AT&T support the 360?

I wonder just how the IPTV software gets on the 360? Is it a CD that we will have to pick up from our provider, similar to the installation CD for the HD-DVD player? Will the 360 automatically download the software from Microsoft if it is using an IP associated with a provider that will allow the 360? Will the provider give us a code to enter in, similar to a beta testing program? Will we have to rent a special 'IPTV 360' from our service provider?

Nobody has really confirmed just how the 360 will be allowed to receive the IPTV programming. AT&T surely hasn't, and all Microsoft keeps saying is it will be available by year end...Which is quickly coming up if I might add.

"Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) features will only be available from the Xbox 360 through a service provider who has deployed Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV) services." "Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV), will be available to service providers by the end of the year."

That sure does sound like the provider will issue 360's, but maybe they can release the software alone?