BT and Microsoft Announce Partnership to Deliver Entertainment Experience Through Xbox 360
BT Vision IPTV
customers will soon be able to receive best in gaming, TV and movies, all
through Xbox 360.
LAS VEGAS — Jan. 6, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. and telecommunications
leader BT announced they are bringing together the next-generation TV service
BT Vision with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 games and entertainment system. All BT
broadband customers will have the unique opportunity to receive the best in
high-definition gaming, television and movies through an Xbox 360 console, in a
powerful, all-in-one entertainment experience. BT Vision, which is powered by
the Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) platform, plans to make
this first-of-its-kind device and service offering available to customers in
the middle of 2008. The announcement was made during the keynote address by
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Microsoft President Robbie Bach of the
Entertainment & Devices Division at 2008 International CES on Jan. 6.
The groundbreaking partnership will enable any BT Broadband customer to use
an Xbox 360 console to access the BT Vision service and its extensive library
of on-demand content, giving instant access to hundreds of movies and thousands
of hours of sporting events, television programming, music videos and other
digital content, such as BT Vision Sport’s 242 “near-live” FA Premier League
football matches.
BT Vision customers with an Xbox 360 console will gain the option of
accessing BT Vision from either the Xbox 360 console or a set-top-box. The
service will be available to existing and future Xbox 360 console owners.
BT Vision on Xbox will combine the richness of the Microsoft
Mediaroom-enabled TV service with the benefits of next-generation gaming, as
well as unique new capabilities that the integrated solution brings. Xbox LIVE,
the largest online social network in the living room, will be seamlessly
integrated into the experience, providing consumers with a wide range of
community-based features, such as voice chat, sending and receiving text and
voice messages, and accessing Xbox LIVE Marketplace, all while watching TV. For
example, while a TV viewer is enjoying his favorite football game, he can receive
a message from a friend inviting him to join a voice chat, or they could play a
game of their own with EA SPORTS™ “FIFA Soccer.”
“We are pleased to partner with Microsoft to deliver a truly compelling
connected entertainment experience to our customers,” said Dan Marks, CEO of BT
Vision. “For the first time consumers in the U.K. will be able to experience
the advantages of an advanced TV service together with the benefits of
next-generation gaming. Our aim is to provide BT Vision on multiple platforms —
giving customers greater convenience, control and flexibility over what they
watch, when they watch and how they watch TV. It also means that we are able to
potentially expand our BT Vision customer base by tapping into the popularity
of Xbox 360.”
“This is an exciting moment in home entertainment,” said Enrique Rodriguez,
corporate vice president of the Connected Television Division at Microsoft.
“Last year at CES, we announced Xbox 360 on Microsoft Mediaroom as a powerful
platform capable of enabling new entertainment experiences for consumers, and
we are pleased to team with BT to bring this service to market. Together we are
enabling BT Vision customers to be the first in the world to enjoy this
next-generation TV and gaming entertainment experience.”