IPTV set-top boxes were all over the headlines this week with new partnerships, increased production, and additional sales. Microsoft is back in the spotlight as the company announced it is working together with television equipment manufacturer Scientific-Atlanta on IPTV set-top boxes

Verizon broke new ground by obtaining another licensing contract in Manatee County, Florida to start offering FiOS IPTV.

The article below titled "IPTV: More than an Acronym Du Jour", gives a great insight on some of the features IPTV will offer. Here is a portion of the list:

• Send photos of home movies from your PC directly into the TV and view them on the TV screen
• Send an email message to your friends through the TV screen while you watch a TV show together across great distances
• Use a cell phone to change channels on your TV
• Allows service providers to deliver only those channels the consumer wants at a given time, rather than all the channels available as happens with today’s cable TV networks.
• Receive brief and unobtrusive telephone network caller ID information on your TV screen while still watching TV, to decide whether you want to answer the phone or not; this would enable you to screen telemarketers, among other things.
• Play video games using your TV set rather than your computer

Here are some other stories worth reading...

I don't know about you, but we continue to be mindboggled at the prospects of broadband over powerline as it stretches on to make headlines. Have your doubts? Simply go to Newegg.com or your favorite online equipment supplier (who offers powerline networking products) and read the reviews of people already using powerline solutions. And those reviews are of the slower 14Mbps devices. Simply wait until Intellion demonstrates HD IPTV streaming at 200Mbps over powerline.

Switching subjects...for us, watching the giant telcos and cable companies in the U.S. battle it out is about as entertaining as a heavyweight title match with a bag of popcorn. Perhaps that's because, like most Americans, we're also tired of seeing the cable companies enjoy their monopoly-by-community and increase rates without any direct-line competition. So if you're like us, we highly recommend you read the USA Today article below, "FCC chief considers forcing cable TV competition." This adds an interesting spin to how the table could turn on cable companies.

Other interesting reads...

There was no lack of IPTV and Internet TV news this week. Several large companies topped the headlines this week...

• PanAmSat launched a satellite to expand its fleet providing HDTV, IPTV and VOD services
• SBC Communications made the large announcement that Motorola and Scientific-Atlanta would be the suppliers of set-top boxes for its upcoming IPTV service
• Sprint and the NFL signed a groundbreaking exclusive five-year deal for wireless content
• The last two days of the Swedish Match Tour Final will be broadcasted live on the Internet
• Lastly, we'd like to add that our Internet TV lineup has been enhanced

Here are some other interesting reads...

It was a relatively quiet week for IPTV and Internet TV.

• Companies continued to report their second quarter results this week.
• Telecom companies won a large battle against the cable companies in Texas.
• Powerline networking continues to show no signs of a short-out.
• Our Internet TV station listing continues to grow.

Here are some other interesting reads...

Alcatel, Amdocs, and China topped the IPTV headlines this week.

Here are some other headlines we found newsworthy.

Please note that headlines we do cover will not show up in this listing.

IPTV and Internet TV continued to be frequent headlines this week as additional service providers announce new offerings and...

• Google and IBM both show interest in Powerline Networking
• Internet TV is taking off with CBS announcing a 24 hour news station and AOL/XM Radio partnering to broadcast live concerts
• Cable and Telecom companies continue to battle in the U.S.

Please note that headlines we do cover will not show up in this listing.

AOL and Live 8 stole the show this week for headlines in the news. People around the world can still not get enough of the Live 8 broadcasts which can still be seen, broken up by artist and song, on aolmusic.com.

Meanwhile, MTV is still aplogizing for its always interrupted coverage of Live 8, which was highly criticized for cutting away during Pink Floyd's performance, as well as excessive commercial breaks.

MTV EVP Van Toffler told the L.A. Times that a re-edited version of the Live 8 broadcast is "not the craziest idea." He added, "Knowing what I know now, I probably would have made the decision to go commercial-free."

Wow, no kidding?

Those were the headlines until the world was shocked yesterday with the London bombings.

Our sincerest condolences go out to those in London.

Unlike last week where the end of the world was nearing for Microsoft after the Telstra pullout, this week has been nothing but bright sunshine as British Telecom announces they will use Microsoft’s technology for their IPTV implementation. This news has been broadcasted everywhere but nonetheless; we have included two articles on it.

We hope you enjoy the rest. As usual, headlines we do cover will not show up in this listing.

This week we are starting a new feature article entitled "This Week's IPTV Headlines." As much as we try to keep up with news involving IPTV and related issues, there is news we don't have the opportunity to write on as well as great articles written up by other news sources around the world. In our constant strive to be the aggregation point for IPTV news; we would like to bring you these headlines so that you have the best opportunity to stay informed.

Please note that headlines we do cover will not show up in this listing. Let us know your thoughts.