Connected Home News

Microsoft strikes Xbox deal with Netflix, PS3 counters with own video service

July 16, 2008 - Microsoft has struck a deal with online video rental service Netflix that will enable the Xbox 360 games console to stream Netflix movies to users in the US, while Sony has revealed its own plans to enable PS3 owners to download and watch videos via their console.

Upper middle class households are target for Internet-connected TV devices, says study

July 15, 2008 - New research has found that the target US household for Internet-connected TV devices is in the upper middle class with an income of between US$100,000 and US$150,000, ideally with children and located in a metropolitan area on the East or West Coast.

BT to invest £1.5bn in fibre network

July 15, 2008 - UK incumbent telco BT has announced plans to invest £1.5bn in the deployment of fibre-based, super fast broadband to up to 10mn homes in the country by 2012, with top speeds of up to 100 Mbps by 2012 and the potential of over 1,000 Mbps in the future.

New BT Home Hub offers up to twice the range

July 14, 2008 - UK incumbent telco BT has introduced a new Home Hub wireless router, based on the 802.11n draft specification and offering up to twice the range of the previous generation of Home Hubs.

Over two thirds of all UK TVs now digital, says Ofcom

July 11, 2008 - UK communications watchdog Ofcom has reported that 68% of the 60mn television sets in the UK are now digitally linked via cable, satellite, DTT or IPTV.

Future home area networks to allow customised energy usage, says ABI Research

July 10, 2008 - "Smart metering" that will communicate electric, gas or water usage data over a network to the providing utility will evolve into "Home Area Networks" that allow utilities greater management efficiencies while offering customers more choices for their consumption, according to a new report from ABI Research.

Home Gateway Initiative's new CTO up for the challenge

July 2, 2008 - The Home Gateway Initiative (HGI) has appointed a new Chief Technology Officer in Duncan Bees, a telecoms & CE industry stalwart and previously co-chair of the HGI's Quality of Service group. Speaking to our sister website ipTV News , Mr. Bees discussed his plans as new chief technologist for the organisation, and outlined the manifold work it is planning to further the home gateway as an enabler of next-generation consumer services.

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