Microsoft Crosses 10 million Xbox 360s Sold, Announces Xbox 360 Can Be IPTV Set-Top

[Punk_Raven]

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2007/01/microsoft_cross.html



Bill Gates and Robbie Bach are expected to announce at the Consumer Electronics Show that Microsoft has sold more than 10.4 million Xbox 360s since the launch in November, 2005. That means Microsoft has also hit its targets for sales of consoles during the holidays.


Microsoft is also dropping something of a bomb at the show. Jim Brady, a spokesman for Microsoft, said Gates and Bach will say in the keynote speech Sunday night at the Venetian Hotel that the Xbox 360 will be able to serve as a set-top box for IPTV, or Internet protocol television. The details on this announcement are sketchy and Brady says only that it will appear later this year.


But that raises the specter of how much of a black box will the video game console become. If you can get your television, movies, music and other entertainment downloaded from the telephone companies such as AT&T -- a major IPTV provider that is using Microsoft's IPTV software -- and have it accessible through your Xbox 360, what else do you need? Maybe you don't need a PC.


For sure, there are a ton of unanswered questions here. But the prospects are interesting. Could AT&T give away Xbox 360s for free in exchange for users signing up for subscriptions to IPTV service, which gives high-definition programs, video on demand, and digital video recording? Will Microsoft have to come out with a larger hard disk drive for the Xbox 360 in order to allow it to fulfill the digital video recording function? Brady declined to comment. He did say that no consumers would be left behind, meaning that all of the 10 million plus Xbox 360s in the market would be able to participate in the IPTV services at some level.


Brady says gamers have shown that they like Xbox Live Marketplace and are downloading videos and music more than Microsoft anticipated already, even with the small 20-gigabyte hard disk on the Xbox 360.


In other details, Microsoft declined to say how many Zune music/video players it sold during the holidays. It will only say that it is targeting 1 million sold by June 30. There over 5 million Xbox Live members, though the paid portion is not borken out. Marketplace downloads, messages and other features are exceeding expectations.


Lastly, Nintendo hasn't yet disclosed how many Wiis it sold during the holidays. But Beth Lewellyn, a spokeswoman for Nintendo of America, said that sales in North America exceeded Nintendo's expectations. Nintendo predicted it would sell four million consoles worldwide by Dec. 31, but she could not confirm that number.




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[anomynous]

I just wonder how much the IPTV will cost?

[hcamacho]

This is kind of good and bad news, a 360 set top box?What about gaming?That's all I wanted it for.......Microsoft sure is trying to get a grip on the set top box market, before Sony even tries it out.....interesting turn of events, this generation has gone, eh?

[Genocidal]

Not surprising at all. It may not run smoothly right out of the gate, but by setting this up now Microsoft is getting its foot in the door even further for digital distribution. As an added bonus for them, if it takes off consumers will have one less reason to buy Blu-Ray.

[jrutz]

Link above no longer exists, but I wonder if it has anything to do with this:

http://www.microsoft.com/tv/IPTVEdition.mspx

[elsnow77]

i don't get why all these game companie are trying to make video game consoles the next computer. If i wanted to watch videos, surf the web, etc i'd buy a computer, not a video game console!! That is one thing i praise nintendo for, keeping it about the games

[Punk_Raven]

i don't get why all these game companie are trying to make video game consoles the next computer. If i wanted to watch videos, surf the web, etc i'd buy a computer, not a video game console!! That is one thing i praise nintendo for, keeping it about the games

The wii has Forecast Channel, a news channel, and an Internet channel. Oh, and game consoles are computers. Just felt like nitpicking :lol:.

Personally, I feel that the IPTV thing is a waste of microsoft's and everyone else's time. I mean, maybe in a few years. But this is entirely too early, easpecially with 2 formats ( satellite and cable ) that aren't going anywhere. Downloading TV shows and Movies, yes. TV, no. And I'm guessing that if you can afford to buy that 700-1500 dollar( seems like the most common prices for HDTVs) TV that you have cable or satellite and you're completely happy with them. Either that or you don't have cable or satellite so you'd be able to afford the HDTV. I dunno ;)

[Punk_Raven]

Yeah, part of me really hopes that he was sarcastic. Either that or he must be out of date.

[dafoomie]

Personally, I feel that the IPTV thing is a waste of microsoft's and everyone else's time. I mean, maybe in a few years. But this is entirely too early, easpecially with 2 formats ( satellite and cable ) that aren't going anywhere. Downloading TV shows and Movies, yes. TV, no. And I'm guessing that if you can afford to buy that 700-1500 dollar( seems like the most common prices for HDTVs) TV that you have cable or satellite and you're completely happy with them. Either that or you don't have cable or satellite so you'd be able to afford the HDTV. I dunno ;)
I don't think they'll be looking to replace your basic cable service. They might carry pay per view and channels that aren't seen on a lot of cable systems.

At least, I don't think they'll try to replace your basic cable, I don't think that would work.

[gsr]

ATT IPTV sucks right now

your local cable company and verizon fios can deliver two HDTV streams, at least, to your house, which means you can use a dual tuner dvr to record two shows at the same time.

IPTV has a TOTAL bandwidth of 25 mbps, and they're using 6 mbps for internet. There is only room for one HDTV stream to come into your house and that means you can only record that one stream.

They announced this really cool technology and took two steps back in teh process -- sometimes you wonder if these guys are thinking at all.

The service will cost the same as your cable/satellite service. If you're in a major market and have ATT as your phone service provider keep an eye out for "u-verse"

[Cormier6083]

Cool. 2 bad I'm 2 p00r

[KaneRobot]

I'd like to see more info on the 10 million consoles sold. I honestly didn't think it was going to happen, good for them if it did though.

I also wonder if that "sold" number is the number SHIPPED or the number actually SOLD to consumers.

[ryanbph]

I don't remeber how each company calculated there sales, but iirc nintendo numbers are sold to consumer and is the exact (closest) indication on units in consumers hands. Msft is next closest with there numbers to units in consumers hands, and then sony....I think it was msft did numbers shipped from distribution centers to retailers, where as sony did numbers shipped off of the production line something along those lines


either way it is good news for msft as I haven't seen a lot of 360 on the store shelves where I live.

[Tha Xecutioner]

If the total number of consoles SOLD is 10 mil, hoorah for Microsoft. Well done.

[defiance_17]

I would guess that the number sold has to be very close to the number shipped, at least in the U.S. In the last month or so, I really haven't seen a lot of 360s on store shelves, likely due to the incredible deals that have been going on ($100 gift cards, free games, etc.).
Twelve months ago, I never, ever thought I'd be saying this...but I'm impressed with how Microsoft is handling their game division.

[Sarang01]

They might carry pay per view and channels that aren't seen on a lot of cable systems.


THANK you! If MS can give me ImaginAsian, AznTV, MBC, KBS World or preferably KBS1 and 2, SBS, M-Net and KMTV for $25-30 a month I'd sign up in a heartbeat considering considering the package DirecTV is giving is slightly worse.
The first two channels mentioned are primarily Asian American directed channels though they have Anime and that's all subtitled, hint, hint, Cartoon Network, Encore WAM, Showtime Beyond and possibly ADV's Anime channel. The sad thing is you can pick up ImaginAsian FTA if you have a C-Band sized dish.
Link for DirecTV's pricing: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1200050

So the base cost for the Korean channels if you don't want an extra one is $37 a month so even offering the shit I suggested at $30 or $25 would be a substantial savings and as long as you kept that package exclusive to IPTV you'd take all of the Korean customers on DirecTV, Dish and possibly Cable as well.

[Punk_Raven]

Hmm. Shipped and sold are like, very close ( in this situation) THey sell them to retailers, to which they have to ship them for them to get to the retailers. And the retailers wouldn't order more boxes if the people weren't buying them.

[likeaphoenixignition]

Cool for them. I personally don't care for IPTV. I have a computer to get my music and other stuff instead.

[anomynous]

It will probably cost 500 MS points per channel, and you have 1 week to watch the channel. But once you start watching the channel, you only have 24 hours to watch the channel, before it gets deleted and you have to repurchase it.

[doubledown]

I think it's interesting as Comcast has been total ass lately for me...but, they are really the only option I have right now. WOW seems just as shitty with their ala-cart HD pricing.

Ah well....time will tell. Innovation is good.

[Graystone]

If IPTV has good channels, and a decent price it might replace my cable. Maybe as long as somehow it could hook to my tivo.

IPTV might also be a reason for the 120 gig HD we heard rumors about. A tivo like service.

[thrustbucket]

i don't get why all these game companie are trying to make video game consoles the next computer. If i wanted to watch videos, surf the web, etc i'd buy a computer, not a video game console!! That is one thing i praise nintendo for, keeping it about the games

Welcome to the main reason Microsoft got into the console market.

And the Wii has a web browser and channels, how is that gaming?

[Dr Mario Kart]

Welcome to the main reason Microsoft got into the console market.

And the Wii has a web browser and channels, how is that gaming?
For the record, I disagree with those features, but I understand why they are there.

Without real internal storage though, its all just superficial, tacked on functions. Like how my cell phone has a calculator.

[FriskyTanuki]

I'd like to see more info on the 10 million consoles sold. I honestly didn't think it was going to happen, good for them if it did though.

I also wonder if that "sold" number is the number SHIPPED or the number actually SOLD to consumers.
It's most likely shipped, as Microsoft is known to quote as sold similarly to Sony.

[Indiana]

The wii has Forecast Channel, a news channel, and an Internet channel. Oh, and game consoles are computers. Just felt like nitpicking :lol:.

Personally, I feel that the IPTV thing is a waste of microsoft's and everyone else's time. I mean, maybe in a few years. But this is entirely too early, easpecially with 2 formats ( satellite and cable ) that aren't going anywhere. Downloading TV shows and Movies, yes. TV, no. And I'm guessing that if you can afford to buy that 700-1500 dollar( seems like the most common prices for HDTVs) TV that you have cable or satellite and you're completely happy with them. Either that or you don't have cable or satellite so you'd be able to afford the HDTV. I dunno ;)

Well actually the amount of HD programing available is horrible today. There are only handful of channels that cable and satellite are carrying that are HD. If MS can offer 50 HDTV channels for $29.99 a month they will take the market by storm.

[SpecTrE3353]

Well actually the amount of HD programing available is horrible today. There are only handful of channels that cable and satellite are carrying that are HD. If MS can offer 50 HDTV channels for $29.99 a month they will take the market by storm.

I would buy that in a heartbeat.

[keithp]

I would guess that the number sold has to be very close to the number shipped, at least in the U.S. In the last month or so, I really haven't seen a lot of 360s on store shelves, likely due to the incredible deals that have been going on ($100 gift cards, free games, etc.).
Twelve months ago, I never, ever thought I'd be saying this...but I'm impressed with how Microsoft is handling their game division.

Hmm. Shipped and sold are like, very close ( in this situation) THey sell them to retailers, to which they have to ship them for them to get to the retailers. And the retailers wouldn't order more boxes if the people weren't buying them.

I would guess it's the opposite, and they're quoting amount shipped to retailers.

I've seen a boatload of 360's when I've been out looking for the Wii. I saw at LEAST 30 sitting at one Best Buy today.

But for what it's worth I definitely wouldn't go by what I or anyone else sees in our small part of the US, not a big enough area.

[thrustbucket]

No, I see stacks of 360's too. Went to my best buy last night and they had 2 huge stacks of PS3's at the door too. Nobody cares.

Of course the Wii is still nowhere to be found, good thing I don't give a shit about it. Best reason so far I've seen to get a Wii: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUFaS98pGt0

[gunm]

A tiny bit more on the interface:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/xbox-360-iptv-interface-gallery/

Unfortunately still no specifics on how much, who's providing, what kind of content, or how it works (where the hell is our bigger HDD?), etc.., though.

[propeller_head]

http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/d/f/bdf87c24-73a9-4f5a-b7b7-daf56f5b1f73/carbon_2MB_on10.wmv

right click save as

thats the IPTV in action

[doubledown]

So, how does IPTV work? I'm curious about this...bumping because I saw it mentioned in the Black 360 thread.

Isn't ATT Homezone something like this? Does IPTV give local channels? I'm curious how much this will cost, as Comcast likes to rape its customers lately.

I'm curious if MS will sell like a 360 IPTV kit that will install the software and include a 200GB HDD for DVR functions and whatnot.

Also, I know with Comcast I really only need one cable box (none if I want no features and I can pipe cable to all my other TV's.) Can IPTV do the same, or will you need a box for each TV? All this new technology.

[propeller_head]

it will probably cost as much as other IPTV services.

i think AT&T U-verse (aka Project Lightspeed) will get it first.

with MS trying to get other fiber services like FiOS and Bell ExpressVu to follow.

i dont think youll get a new HDD. but MS will be releasing a 120GB version of the 360 in the future. maybe the fiber companies will offer a free HD upgrade w/ subscription kind of thing. who knows.

but most people dont live where fiber is available, so theyll have no way to get the IPTV anyway.