BT Vision offered via Xbox 360

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 7 Jan 2008 at 17:34

BT customers will be able to access BT Vision services via an Xbox 360, as part of a new collaboration with Microsoft.

The service, hinted at during Bill Gates' uninspired keynote, will offer streaming of on-demand video content such as music videos, movies and sports events, as well as integration with Microsoft's gaming network, Xbox LIVE.

While a user is watching on-demand video, they will be able to receive messages from Xbox LIVE friends, start voice chats or even initiate online games.

"For the first time consumers in the UK will be able to experience the advantages of an advanced TV service together with the benefits of next generation gaming. BT's 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." says Dan Marks, BT Vision CEO.

Existing BT Vision customers will be given the option of accessing content from either a set-top box or the Xbox 360, but BT has not yet decided whether the new package will include hardware.

Existing Xbox 360 owners will be able to access the service after a simple registration, a BT Vision spokesperson told PC Pro, which will involve a simple firmware upgrade. BT already has experience working with Microsoft' Mediaroom IPTV platform, on which the current BT Vision service is based.

"This is an exciting moment in home entertainment. Last year at CES, Microsoft announced Xbox 360 on Microsoft Mediaroom as a powerful platform capable of enabling new entertainment experiences for consumers, and is 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." says Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Connected Television division at Microsoft.

As of November last year BT had only managed to sell 60,000 of its BT Vision boxes, a far lower figure than the "hundreds of thousands" it estimated it would have by the end of 2007. BT will be hoping this latest offering helps boost uptake of its Vision package, and improve what some have found to be unsatisfactory reliability.