[January 06, 2005] BellSouth Initiates Technical Trial of Microsoft TV IPTV Edition Tweet ATLANTA, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BellSouth today announced a technical trial of Microsoft(R) TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform, tapping the advancing capabilities of the company's next generation broadband network. BellSouth's fiber-rich broadband network will increasingly serve as the primary platform used to deliver cutting-edge voice, video and data services to customers. By leveraging new DSL technologies, including ADSL2+ and copper pair bonding, and BellSouth's five million miles of fiber cabling, BellSouth intends to trial a feature-rich video offer during the first half of 2005. BellSouth will also continue to expand its fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) network, which currently passes one million homes, to an additional 180,000 customers in 2005. BellSouth is currently completing testing of IPTV hardware and software within its labs and will later expand its trial to set-top boxes within customers' homes selected for the trial. BellSouth will then evaluate further deployment based upon results of the trial. "IPTV will potentially forever alter the way we consume video content much like personal video recorders have done," said Bill Smith, chief technology officer of BellSouth. "IPTV places customers in the driver's seat and gives them complete control of their entertainment experience regardless of the media format or on which device within their home they wish to use. We're bringing together the benefits of broadband, the rapid adoption of home networking technology and the magic of software to give customers content where, when and how they want it." About BellSouth Corporation BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider. Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial up and high speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth(R) RealPages.com(R) and The Real Yellow Pages(R). More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com/ . BellSouth Corporation CONTACT: Brent Fowler of BellSouth, +1-404-249-2839, [email protected] Web site: http://www.bellsouth.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]