BT Group launched an IP TV service for customers of its broadband Internet access service on Monday, allowing them to view and record TV shows or order music videos, TV programs and movies on demand over their telephone line.The service, BT Vision, delivers the TV programs to set-top boxes supplied by Koninklijke Philips Electronics, and uses Microsoft’s TV Internet Protocol Television Edition software. BT said Microsoft’s platform will eventually allow for the addition of voice, instant-messaging and presence capabilities.To receive the IPTV service, customers must first subscribe to BT’s asymmetric DSL (ADSL) Internet access service, for a fee ranging from 18 pounds (US$36) to 27 pounds a month. Installation and connection charges are 90 pounds. BT then offers packages of TV channels, such as children’s shows or music videos, for 6 pounds per month. All viewers have access to a bundle of 40 digital terrestrial TV channels, called Freeview.Microsoft has aggressively marketed its IPTV platform to carriers. A number have commercially deployed Microsoft’s IPTV services, including AT&T, Verizon Communications, Swisscom, Deutsche Telekom and Telecom Italia. The IPTV market is forecast to grow, but faces tough competition from cable, satellite TV and free-to-air terrestrial TV operators. Market research firm Gartner predicts IPTV subscribers in Western Europe will number 3.3 million households this year, and increase to 16.7 million by 2010.-Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service (London Bureau) Related Links: BT Touts All-IP Network Benefits to Businesses BT Connects First Customers to All-IP NetworkCheck out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature Expedia poised to take flight with generative AI CTO Rathi Murthy sees the online travel service’s vast troves of data and AI expertise fueling a two-pronged transformation strategy aimed at growing the company by bringing more of the travel industry online. By Paula Rooney Jun 02, 2023 7 mins Travel and Hospitality Industry Digital Transformation Artificial Intelligence case study Deoleo doubles down on sustainability through digital transformation The Spanish multinational olive oil processing company is immersed in a digital transformation journey to achieve operational efficiency and contribute to the company's sustainability strategy. By Nuria Cordon Jun 02, 2023 6 mins CIO Supply Chain Digital Transformation brandpost Resilient data backup and recovery is critical to enterprise success As global data volumes rise, business must prioritize their resiliency strategies. By Neal Weinberg Jun 01, 2023 4 mins Security brandpost Democratizing HPC with multicloud to accelerate engineering innovations Cloud for HPC is facilitating broader access to high performance computing and accelerating innovations and opportunities for all types of organizations. By Tanya O'Hara Jun 01, 2023 6 mins Multi Cloud Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe