Okay the headline is a bit misleading but there are some curious moves in the world of on-demand video. This morning AT&T (SBC) announced that it will integrate Akimbo’s on-demand video service with its AT&T Homezone service, which if you remember going to be powered by a special set-top box/DVR made by 2Wire that integrates the DISH Network, AT&T DSL, Yahoo-Broadband Services. AT&T Homezone is currently in trials. This is clearly a good move for Akimbo, which finally seems to be getting rid of its hardware strategy.
All the talk about Microsoft powered IPTV is good and great, but one wonders why AT&T is lavishing so much attention on this “Homezone” product offering. This whole IPTV thing might be going slower than anyone likes to admit. Meanwhile, Yahoo this morning acquired the technology of PVR company, Meedio. Dave Zatz thinks that “Yahoo will ultimately leverage the Meedio platform to interface with their music services and perhaps offer a video download service.”
Of course it could also mean that that much ballyhooed Yahoo-everywhere platform announced at CES is not going according to plan, and there have been rumblings that some of the developers have high-tailed out of dodge to do other things. Any tips, send them my way!
I think AT&T is just trying to follow the Microsoft’s Media Center usage scenario by adding third-party services like Akimbo to its Homezone offering. If you didn’t know, Akimbo is available to owners of Microsoft MCE PCs (you don’t have to buy Akimbo’s set-top box). Microsoft has this Online Spotlight section in its MCE menu where you can find/add/delete third-party services, including Akimbo, MovieLink, CinemaNow, etc. If you hook your MCE PC to your TV set, you can watch IPTV in your living room right now. In my case, I don’t use these third-party services as they require additional monthly fees. I simply connected my Dish reciever to my MCE PC and use it as a PVR and media center for A/V content. If I want, I can even burn the recorded movies to DVD. It’s better than TiVo or Dish Network’s DVRs, because you don’t have to pay extra for that. Still, I find MCE limited in its functionality and am evaluating independent PVR software products right now.
I have been using meedio since its inception as MyHTPC some 3 yrs ago (maybe more). I just read their news release that they are going to stop their EPG service from July 1st. This is definitely not going to go down well with their existing user base some of whom have contributed greatly by writing plugins etc. Also noticed that they have already taken down their support forums. Wonder if yahoo is going to provide support for the existing customer base or risk losing valueable users.
I am happy for the meedio guys (pablo etc.) but this doesnt seem very good for existing users.
Well i guess its time to look at other options like snapstream or sage tv.
DaScud
is a serial entrepreneur who played a major role in the invention & commercialization of the world’s first consumer ISP, Internet advertising (pay-per-click ads), free email, and digital media superdistribution
I think all this effort by telcos/cable operators to create these private IPTV networks is about as stupid as them trying to create their own Internet. We have a network – it’s called the Internet. This is how the IPTV vision will become a reality. AT&T is either having a moment of clarity or hedging their bets here.
http://alexcastro.typepad.com/castrosblog/2006/04/akimbodeal_poi.html
I think it’s great deal for the Akimbo, because their strategy of selling set-top box with the contents was not working. In fact, their box and it’s UI was not that great.
Now, in IPTV world, every content provider would like to have their own share. Clear winner will be the company, whose Set-top box integrate well with the content/media aggregator.
Hello to Z! =)
Hulu is just the beginning! Have you check this out http://www.hulu.com, they are figuring it out, hang on tight.