Verizon Steps in to Fix Microsoft's IPTV

NYGiant writes "Microsoft IPTV isn't cutting it for Verizon, Ars Technica reports, so they've taken over parts of the project. Verizon is in a rush to perfect its IPTV service, which is based on Microsoft's IPTV software. The problem is that to run well, Microsoft's software needs more memory than Verizon's set top boxes ship with. From the article: 'Under the terms of that deal, Verizon would use Microsoft's Foundation Edition middleware stack. Microsoft would also supply a set of customer-facing applications. While Foundation Edition remains in use by Verizon, the development of the other applications was taken over by Verizon engineers.'"

If it's a dig at microsoft, no matter how small...

[mumblestheclown]

If it's a dig at microsoft, no matter how small.... it's news on slashdot.

Another blow for outsourcing

[glomph]

I'm as virulent a Microsoft-hater as you'll find on Slashdot, but the lesson here is not that they suck (which they do, badly). It's a lesson about company A (Verizon in this case) subbing out an important business segment to company B (Microsoft, the promise-anything, and ship whatever company). If something is THAT important to your business, dammit, get it done yourself! 9 out of 10 times something goes to shit, and you either had smart lawyers (as Verizon clearly did) that at least gives you -some- chance of inconveniently, expensively bailing the project out.

The deal-making pinheads will never figure this out however, their retinas, and the brains behind them, are all fatigued from staring at Powerpoint slides and Blackberry thingies.

Re:If it's a dig at microsoft, no matter how small

[just_another_sean]

It's just so darn easy to do though. Microsoft practically writes the jokes themselves.

And on a more serious note a major application provider deciding that an MS Solution is too
bloated and impractical to use is hardly small. As a developer and someone who has to carefully
help choose software and the foundation for solutions for my company I'm interested in how major
players like Verizon fare with MS software.

Re:A Good Day For Microsoft

[Ucklak]

I wonder if this could be one of those Embrace - Extend - Extinguish type of deals where Verizon, with all the assets Microsoft wants, ends up having to raise money by selling assets or getting bought out or sold.

Didn't the pinheads at Verizon read into their coporate history of dealing with this company?
There has been very few if any successful partnerships with Microsoft.

I think the only successful ones are the hardware related where Microsoft is basically a customer.

Re:Regulation Regulation Regulations!

[mpapet]

IPTV is far from a monopoly
Yeah, and that's because the bill giving them the "national overlay" monopoly is still wending it's way through the system. http://telephonyonline.com/regulatory/news/congres s_cable_franchise_030906/ [telephonyonline.com]
First-movers and whatever is left for cable companies in the States are dead as soon as this one passes.

And then there's:
VOIP Regulated away to the telcos/cable co's. Proverbial toll roads on the internet will be the final nail in the coffin.
CellularIs my service better or cheaper than it was 5 years ago? No. Please explain how they would jam -so- many bits down the average phone connection?
Digital Phone ServiceIs this service better or cheaper than my POTS service? As a former subscriber no. Emphatically no.

I agree they are set to see erosion of their customer base, but I would argue that they aren't meeting competitors in the marketplace, they are meeting them in Washington DC, where they have the money to raise barriers to entry. The average quickie-mart economicthink doesn't apply.

Re:Not IPTV!

[chrisbtoo]

IPTV is delivery of television over the internet.

Nope, IPTV is delivery of television over the Internet Protocol. It doesn't necessarily have to involve "The Internet", and could just as easily be run over these fibre lines as over DSL, which is also common.

Not really; Verizon is failing

[WindBourne]

Verizon paid MS to do a job. Because MS does the same oh/same oh, Verizon found the software unusable. So rather than suing MS and getting back their money for a failed job, they are spending loads of money to have a crap system that can run better. In addition, I would guess that the Verizon ppl will turn over the code to MS. IOW, the Verizon managers are so bad, that they do not want to admit that what they bought, failed.