Microsoft
Corp. has launched a new program to ease the transition for Internet
Protocol Television (IPTV) service providers using other platforms to
migrate to its solution. Called Microsoft Mediaroom Migration Program and
unveiled at the IBC2008 conference, the program provides guidelines and
solutions for service providers considering upgrading their IPTV platform.
The Microsoft Mediaroom Migration Program delivers a structured assessment
process and analytical tools for migration, including business and
technical workshops to review set-top-box portability, network
compatibility and audio-visual head-end interoperability. The program also
includes risk-benefit tools to compare lifetime customer value and build
the business case for executive management.
Ben Huang, director of product management for Microsoft Mediaroom,
said, "As the IPTV market matures, we're seeing interest from operators on
first-generation platforms and homegrown solutions to migrate to Microsoft
Mediaroom. These service providers need to add high-definition and advanced
digital video recording (DVR) and video-on-demand features that are now
fundamental to any competitive TV offering, and they want to remain
competitive by being able to easily deploy advanced interactive
applications. We are currently engaged in assessing migration opportunities
with a number of customers and have been approached by many more. Platform
migrations are complex, so this program has been developed to assist with
business and technical planning, and reduce the cost and pain of
migration."
Ben Keen, chief analyst at Screen Digest, said, "There are now over 250
IPTV operators worldwide, and we expect global IPTV subscriber growth to be
nearly 70 percent this year; by comparison, cable and satellite pay-TV
subscriber growth will be single-digit. To maintain this growth, operators
must retain a competitive edge by utilizing a technology platform that
allows them to continue offering innovative new services. Screen Digest
estimates that one in seven active IPTV set-top boxes worldwide will be
running Microsoft Mediaroom by the end of 2008."
The three key phases of the Microsoft Mediaroom Migration Program aim
to take a service provider from initial consideration to full migration of
the platform, as follows:
- Phase 1 -- Planning scenarios around engineering and business
metrics, assessment of lifetime value of the customer, marketing research
kit, usability testing.
- Phase 2 -- Trial program creation, including infrastructure and
set-top box migration and migration communications planning.
- Phase 3 -- Delivery of training and workshops, operational readiness
planning for commercial deployment, platform migration and eventual legacy
decommissioning. This involves review of the architecture including
servers, set-top boxes, encoder feeds and video-on-demand assets.
Microsoft Mediaroom has a global customer base of leading
telecommunications services providers, including AT&T Inc., BT, Deutsche
Telekom, Swisscom and Reliance Communications Ltd. in India, with more than
1.5 million subscribers connected.
Microsoft Mediaroom
The award-winning Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol Television
(IPTV) and multimedia software platform is driving the future of television
by enabling broadband service providers to deliver new connected TV and
entertainment experiences to consumers worldwide. Microsoft Mediaroom
provides new ways for consumers to experience TV as part of their
connected, digital lifestyle, while also creating new business
opportunities for broadband service providers, hardware manufacturers,
content creators, advertisers and application developers. Over 20 of the
world's leading service providers across four continents have selected the
Microsoft Mediaroom platform to drive their digital TV services.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
their full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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