Microsoft Launches Mediaroom Migration for IPTV Providers

Microsoft has launched a new program, Mediaroom Migration Program, to ease the transition for Internet Protocol television (IPTV (News - Alert)) service providers using other platforms to migrate to its solution.

 

The program provides guidelines and solutions for service providers that are thinking of upgrading their IPTV platform. In addition, it delivers a structured assessment process and analytical tools for migration. These tools include business and technical workshops to review set-top-box portability, network compatibility and audio-visual head-end interoperability.

 

Plus, the program also includes risk-benefit tools to compare lifetime customer value and build the business case for executive management. Ben Huang, director of product management for Microsoft (News - Alert) Mediaroom, said that platform migrations are complex, so this program has been developed to assist with business and technical planning, and reduce the cost and pain of migration.

 

Ben Keen, chief analyst at Screen Digest, said, "There are now over 250 IPTV operators worldwide, and we expect global IPTV subscriber growth to be nearly 70 percent this year; by comparison, cable and satellite pay-TV subscriber growth will be single-digit.

 

He said that to maintain this growth, operators must retain a competitive edge by utilizing a technology platform that allows them to continue offering innovative new services.

 

“Screen Digest estimates that one in seven active IPTV set-top boxes worldwide will be running Microsoft Mediaroom by the end of 2008,” Keen added.

 

“As the IPTV market matures, we're seeing interest from operators on first-generation platforms and homegrown solutions to migrate to Microsoft Mediaroom,” said Huang.

 

There are three key phases of the Microsoft Mediaroom Migration Program that aim to take a service provider from initial consideration to full migration of the platform. The first phase is the planning scenarios around engineering and business metrics, assessment of lifetime value of the customer, marketing research kit, usability testing.

 

The second phase includes trail program creation, including infrastructure and set-top box migration and migration communications planning, while the third phase is delivery of training and workshops, operational readiness planning for commercial deployment, platform migration and eventual legacy decommissioning.

 

Microsoft Mediaroom provides new ways for consumers to experience TV as part of their connected, digital lifestyle, while also creating new business opportunities for broadband service providers, hardware manufacturers, content creators, advertisers and application developers.