The Xbox 360 won’t necessarily replace your existing set-top box. Consider the console as another “node,” as Microsoft reps described it to us at CES, one which will interact and rely upon with your current IPTV box for some of its functions.

That includes DVR features. Mediaroom on Xbox 360 won’t write to the console’s hard drive, instead relying on your PC or current cable box for storage. The reason? According to MS reps, it’s due to the console not being an “always on” device and for heat and hardware reliability issues. But users can still browse content, set programming to record and grab video on demand as they would through the AT&T Uverse or Mediaroom interface.

The current implementation of Mediaroom IPTV on the Xbox wasn’t running through the Uverse brand interface, instead using a stock Mediaroom 2.0 GUI. It was pulling content from a fictional provider, ContosoTV, but was accessible through the New Xbox Experience interface. At the show, it was located on the My Xbox row, something that doesn’t appear to be final.

While maybe a little more limited than we were expecting, just like AT&T Uverse availability in the U.S., those who do subscribe to AT&T’s service will likely find it more of a convenience than a way to whittle down their media centre set up.

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer announced at the company’s pre-CES keynote that, later this year, AT&T “will also enable subscribers to Uverse to enjoy that service on their Xbox 360 consoles”. AT&T’s Uverse cable/internet television service uses Microsoft’s own Mediaroom software, meaning that Mediaroom is coming to the Xbox 360 in North America later this year.

Uverse was touted by Ballmer as “the best-rated, highest-rated residential TV satisfaction in the United States Southern and Western Regions for the second year in a row,” according to J.D. Power and Associates.

What does that mean for Xbox 360 owners with Uverse subscriptions? Well, we’re not 100 per cent sure yet, as Microsoft hasn’t revealed much about the partnership. Hopefully, it means more than just having on demand television programming, the Uverse multiview channel guide, and one less box hooked up to your television.

We’ll be talking with Microsoft later today to learn more about the Uverse deal, so stay tuned. To the internet.

2007. CES. Microsoft get a few people excited with mention of an IPTV service for the 360. British Telecom will be the first to offer it. Years pass, however, and we hear nothing.

Until now! The subject has again popped up, again at CES, and…things haven’t gotten very far. Microsoft are still saying squat (SQUAT!!) on a US release for the service, while for British users, the “holidays 2007″ release window is now “2009…maybe…maybe 2010″.

In other words…don’t hold your breath!

Xbox 360 IPTV Service Not Dead, Just Sleeping (and Testing) [Gizmodo]

There wasn’t a whole lot of details flapping around when Robbie Bach announced that British Telecom would be the first company to team up with Microsoft to offer consumers an Xbox 360 set-top IPTV box.

Fortunately the BBC was able to squeeze some details about the box out of British Telecom. Chief among them is the fact that despite rumors, and our fervent desires, the box will not be able to receive or record live television. Boo!

The service actually sounds like a more robust version of the Video Marketplace Microsoft already offers on the box.

As well as access to BT’s library of on-demand content, users will also be able to watch hundreds of movies and other digital content, including its near-live FA premier League football matches.
…
“The reason for streaming only on the Xbox is because currently the console does not have the capability for live TV or enough hard drive for practical downloading of content,” explained a BT spokesman.

Well that sucks.

Xbox will host BT’s TV service [BBC]

“Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) features will only be available from the Xbox 360 through a service provider who has deployed Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV) services. This was an isolated incident where these features were inadvertently exposed while the customer’s console was being serviced and is unrelated to the Fall Update. Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom (IPTV), will be available to service providers by the end of the year. Microsoft’s IPTV service providers will ultimately determine the timing of Xbox 360 with Microsoft Mediaroom deployments.”

So we’re back to where we started. We know IPTV is coming by the end of the year and that it will be through service providers. What we don’t know is which service providers are going to bite the bullet and test the feature out.

Microsoft: IPTV not a part of Xbox Live Fall Update [Joystiq]

Oddly, the tipster is running the same dashboard version as the rest of us (2.0.5787.0), so how this ended up on his system is unknown. As you can see from the photo, the features listed are: Live & recorded TV, On-demand movies and Chat while watching TV. If all this turns out to be true, it could mean a pretty spiffy update when it finally rolls around. If it’s not true, feel free to head over to Xbox 360 Fanboy and register your many outraged complaints there.

Rumor: Leaked screens show IPTV and Fall update [Xbox 360 Fanboy]

“With this partnership, Mega TV will include high-definition games and Blue-Ray media in its periphery,” said Lee Young-hee, chief of the Media Center at KT.”`We will seek more cooperation with SCEK to create synergy.”

Users will be able to download and store content from the service for their viewing pleasure whenever they want, but at what cost? No clue as pricing hasn’t been announced, though I am assuming they will go the monthly subscription route. Way to synergise, Sony!

PS3 to Debut as IPTV Set-Top Box [Korean Times via Gizmodo]