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.

BellSouth hastens fiber rollout
July 1, 2005
"BellSouth, the third largest regional US telecommunications group, said on Thursday that it plans to accelerate its deployment of fibre-optic network technology following recent positive regulatory and court rulings."

Metro Ethernet market set to skyrocket
June 30, 2005
"The metro Ethernet equipment market, which IDC describes as "potentially disruptive," is taking off, driven by next-generation network applications like triple-play services and Internet television (IPTV). According to IDC, metro Ethernet equipment sales reached $1.7 billion last year, and will continue to rise at a 26% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2009."

Verizon bundles up as Cablevision rival
June 28, 2005
"Terry Denson says Verizon Communications won't name any of its cable TV channel packages after precious metals."

"No silver package, no gold package, no titanium package, no platinum package - each of which confuses the cable customer," said Denson, the Manhattan-based executive who's lining up channels, setting prices and packages and luring customers to the new cable TV service Verizon is preparing to launch."

British Telecom to Launch Interactive TV Services
June 28, 2005
"The Microsoft product will be used by BT to deliver video-on-demand and interactive features such as online chat, voting, gambling and video games. But unlike other phone companies such as SBC Communications Inc., BT is not planning to use the IPTV platform to deliver the regular lineup of cable TV channels."

BT plans to offer IPTV next year
June 28, 2005
"BT on Tuesday unveiled an agreement with Microsoft Corp. under which it plans to use the U.S.-based software giant's Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) software platform to deliver television over broadband connections."

SBC's TV Project Isn't Happening at 'Lightspeed'
June 27, 2005
"SBC, the telecommunications giant, calls its planned television service "Project Lightspeed." Unfortunately, its introduction is not living up to the name."