Following in the footsteps of BellSouth Corp. and SBC Communications Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. has announced plans to use Microsoft Corp.’s IPTV platform for the commercial rollout of its FiOS TV service planned for later this year.
In the Verizon news released Friday, the companies said the Microsoft TV platform will support a full suite of competitive digital TV services that include an interactive program guide, video-on-demand programming and digital video recording capabilities. In addition, Verizon and its third-party partners will use the Microsoft software to add advanced applications for future FiOS TV services.
The Microsoft TV platform will work in parallel with Verizon's iobi service delivery platform, which allows information to be shared across many different networks, applications and devices. The Microsoft TV platform includes the Microsoft .NET architecture, which supports applications on Verizon's iobi platform as well as applications from third-party developers. The flexible .NET Framework gives Verizon an opportunity to broaden its range of applications and services.
Verizon’s IPTV services will use Motorola hardware.
Verizon joins Comcast, SBC Communications, BellSouth and several other Tier 1 network operators worldwide who have chosen Microsoft TV for their digital TV efforts. SBC announced last year plans to do a field trial of video over its fiber access facilities in the first quarter of 2005 based on Microsoft’s IPTV software.
