Wednesday, Microsoft announced that more than 40 providers had signed on to deliver TV programming to Xbox Live. One of those, AT&T, has been supplying content through its Uverse service for about a year, where it's been available to free subscribers. Now it will completely transition to Xbox Live Gold.
So, Americans have finally joined the ranks of nations that can use their Xbox 360 to watch TV on. For those wondering, here's how it all works.
Xbox 360 owners that subscribe to AT&T's U-verse television service can return one of their set-top boxes this Friday, when the service goes live on Microsoft's console. Would you pay $99 to turn your 360 into a cable receiver?
Having first been revealed in, oh, 2007, it seems that the Xbox 360 is finally going to be able to play nice with AT&T's U-Verse streaming TV service. Thing is, there's a catch. Well, catches.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was supposed to be talking about cloud computing on Thursday, but an offhand remark during a Q&A session hinted that additional "form factors" for the Xbox 360, with price points to suit them, are being considered.
After a three year long wait, the Xbox 360 will get IPTV service in the United States, thanks to Mediaroom and AT&T Uverse. While a nice addition to the Xbox 360's list of services, it has its limitations.
