Fixed operator strategies - 12/01/08

BT and Microsoft teamed up to deliver IPTV and HD movie services (BT' s Vision package) to Xbox 360 users.

Telecom Italia plans to sell its French ISP unit Alice (880k ADSL subscribers).

Meraki Networks is a start-up that promises (again) free WiFi in San Francisco.

Electricity provider Empresa Electrica Quito (EEQ) in Ecuador intends to provide broadband services via power line communications (PLC).

Sprint Nextel provided additional updates on its WiMAX service (Xohm) launch. Amdocs has been selected for system integration, portal maintenance, ordering, service activation, and provisioning; customer relationship management; self-service systems; and billing. SwapDrive is set to provide hosted storage services, while Support/customer care services have been outsourced to eTelecare Global, and online security to McAfee. OQO will supply its WiMAX-enabled ultra mobile PC by the end of 2008. Nokia will also make its internet devices available, as well as some other 10 devices from various manufacturers. Xohm' s business model does not include subsidizes. It said it is on track to launch WiMAX services to consumers and businesses at the end of April.

Orange Spain and Sogecable will launch a joint mobile-phone, high-speed Internet and pay-television service in Spain.

BT bet on broadband: it has started its first deployment of fibre-optic cable providing speed of 100 Mbit/s, but also is committed to increasing broadband speeds over copper to 24Mbps.

Verizon debuts GPON roll-out on its FiOS fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network