http://www.currentanalysis.com/ Analysis Reports provided by Current Analysis, Inc. en-us All materials Copyright 1997-2010 Current Analysis, Inc. Reproduction or distribution prohibited without express written consent. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:32:30 GMT http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54363&rss Three years after announcing its plan, AT&T is deploying pair bonding to extend its U-verse network reach by up to 50% from existing neighborhood fiber nodes. The technique can also increase speeds, though faster speeds are not being implemented. Hettick, Larry 2010-07-19T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54096&rss Hulu.com innovates further with a fee-based HD video library to invited subscribers. Hulu Plus programs and compatible devices are limited at launch, but it does what most OTT providers can’t yet do –offer HD content to all three screens. Hettick, Larry 2010-07-01T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41282&rss Qwest has 3.8 million homes on its FTTN footprint today, and it has alluded to over-the-top video as a future service. With CenturyLink planning to acquire Qwest, perhaps its video strategy will change, though no public product roadmap is defined. Hettick, Larry 2010-06-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=50041&rss Clearwire offers its Clear 4G services to over 50 million people and in 2010 plans to add ten more major metros. It added a million subs by Q1 2010, representing 94% year-over-year growth and it expects 2 million customers by the end of the year. Hettick, Larry 2010-06-17T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41356&rss DIRECTV launched a whole-home DVR service and 3D TV in June, with more 3D content and more HD channels planned this summer. Unlike cable competitors that continue to lose video subscribers, DIRECTV added 100,000 new customers in Q1 2010. McGregor, Bruce 2010-06-17T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53897&rss In a company-first move expanding beyond its New York metro, Cablevision plans to buy Bresnan Communications’ 600,000 homes network for $1.3 billion-giving Cablevision a golden opportunity in the mountain states to grow with little financial risk. Hettick, Larry 2010-06-16T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41340&rss Comcast has launched its XFINITY brand, it continues with network upgrades to reclaim capacity for more HD (now with over 100 HD channels), it will soon have a 100 Mbps downstream HSI tier, and it reports plans to acquire NBC Universal are on track. Hettick, Larry 2010-06-16T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41168&rss Google is making steady progress in the mobile content space, but it needs to watch for competitors such as Apple in the advertising and hardware segments to avoid losing its lead. The company seeks to expand to the TV screen with Google TV. Hettick, Larry - Karthikeyan, Deepa 2010-06-09T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53821&rss Yahoo! and Facebook will now let users of both services link their accounts to view and share updates across both networks: The move is part of Yahoo’s strategy to use social networking as a retention tool, but will it attract new Yahoo! users? Hettick, Larry - Karthikeyan, Deepa 2010-06-09T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53796&rss More than a year after it killed off VoiceWing, Verizon has officially launched FiOS Digital Voice as a next-generation VoIP service to FiOS customers. The new service includes 21 features – some not previously available from Verizon. Hettick, Larry 2010-06-04T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43042&rss FiOS accounts for 41% of Verizon consumer revenues; FiOS has reached 29% market penetration for Internet of homes served and 25% for TV subs. FiOS digital voice has launched in select markets. FiOS is now rated very threatening to competitors. Hettick, Larry - 2010-06-02T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53718&rss Verizon and Frontier have received all approvals needed for Verizon to spin-off an estimated 4.8 million rural access lines, now set for July 1, 2010. Good for Frontier, not entirely good for Verizon, and the jury’s still out on customer benefit. Hettick, Larry 2010-06-01T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53658&rss The Cable Show 2010 demonstrated what the industry will embrace. Among the key trends was MSO’s adoption of IPTV. Content remains king, but its storage and presentation are evolving. DOCSIS 3.0, 3D TV, and wireless integration march forward. Hettick, Larry 2010-05-24T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53664&rss Google has partnered with Intel, Sony, and Logitech, as well as Best Buy, DISH Network, and Adobe, to deliver Google TV, bringing content to the TV set. While the technology is good, this is the wrong combination of companies to deliver it. Hettick, Larry 2010-05-24T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41384&rss DISH Network’s promotion of a value-based television service against archrival DIRECTV and cable TV is starting to bear fruit. The satellite TV provider now has over 14.3 million subscribers with channel packages as low as $19.99 a month. McGregor, Bruce 2010-05-19T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39900&rss A broadband connection has become a household necessity for many consumers with a growing number of devices connecting to the Internet from laptops to the latest HDTVs. Availability and speeds continue to rise to meet the growing need. Hettick, Larry 2010-05-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41173&rss Time Warner Cable continues to grow its ARPU, with $105.17 in Q1 2010—a 3.2% quarterly increase attributed to more HSI, voice and premium video subs. It added Dallas and Austin to its 4G footprint, yet it continues to lose basic video customers. Hettick, Larry 2010-05-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43044&rss AT&T continues to use DIRECTV as the video alternative where U-verse is unavailable. Its satellite video subscriber base peaked in 2008; now, it shrinks as the U-verse base grows. The satellite video bundle remains competitive, but just barely. Hettick, Larry - 2010-05-07T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43045&rss Verizon’s DSL growth peaked in 2007 as FiOS ramped up, and it has since lost 400,000 DSL customers. Still, voice line losses are even worse; Verizon has lost over 21% of residential voice subscribers since 2007. Hettick, Larry - 2010-05-07T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43073&rss Cablevision’s triple play bundle is very threatening within the market it serves. Cablevision has continued to gain digital video, data, and voice services market share and the company maintains industry-leading penetration rates. Hettick, Larry - 2010-05-06T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53296&rss Verizon now offers YouTube to FiOS TV subscribers who also have HD or a DVR—adding the world’s most popular Internet video library to a FiOS connected TV. Verizon again beats MSOs who have yet to add user generated videos for the TV screen. Hettick, Larry 2010-04-29T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53233&rss CenturyLink plans to acquire Qwest in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at $22.4 billion, making CenturyLink the third-largest U.S. telco. While planned synergies may benefit shareholders, consumers will see no immediate benefit. Hettick, Larry 2010-04-23T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41440&rss Microsoft OSD lost $480 million in fiscal Q1 2010 as Microsoft continues to invest in online services. Can Bing, an MSN facelift and other strategic initiatives eventually help it become profitable? Hettick, Larry 2010-04-21T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41412&rss Cablevision still leads all MSOs with the best ARPU, digital video and broadband penetration, and voice market share. With the nation's fastest downstream broadband connections of up to 101 Mbps, it is well positioned to combat Verizon FiOS. Hettick, Larry 2010-04-19T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41426&rss Charter lost 9.6% of its basic video customers from 2006 through 2009, despite a 3.4% increase in homes passed. In its favor, it grew ARPU over 43% and added over a million voice subs and 669,000 broadband customers for the same four-year period. Hettick, Larry 2010-04-19T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41459&rss The newly-independent AOL is still suffering subscriber losses and declining ad revenue. Mobile competitors have also sped past it with respect to content. AOL must launch a groundbreaking service to make up for lost time and opportunity. Hettick, Larry - Karthikeyan, Deepa 2010-04-16T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41449&rss AT&T has over 2 million U-verse TV subscribers with over 20% penetration where U-verse has been available for over 24 months, and it is making substantive progress on its three-screen strategy. But it lost over 11% of its wireline subs in 2009. Hettick, Larry 2010-04-16T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41420&rss With 6.2 million customers, Cox is now the third largest cable provider behind Comcast and Time Warner Cable, and it is growing its own wireless service business. But it seldom has the price or feature advantage over AT&T U-verse or Verizon FiOS. Hettick, Larry 2010-04-16T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41436&rss Yahoo! still lags behind Google for unique page views and its ad revenues continue to decline. While Yahoo! Mobile is making an effort to launch innovative services that will up the competitive ante, it still lags behind Google in popularity. Hettick, Larry - Karthikeyan, Deepa 2010-04-14T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43043&rss AT&T provides IPTV and broadband services delivered over the AT&T VDSL or PON network, which can be combined with bundled U-verse Voice phone service and wireless services to constitute a quadruple play. Hettick, Larry - 2010-04-06T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43053&rss Time Warner Cable’s triple play offer is competitive, and it has achieved a 23.7% penetration rate for triple play bundles and a 33.6% rate for double play bundles. Hettick, Larry - 2010-04-05T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41395&rss CenturyLink offers the nation’s lowest prices for entry level triple play, starting at $74.95 a month. It minimized access line losses, and grew broadband by 8% in Q4 2009. Post-merger integration of CenturyTel and Embarq is “on target.” Hettick, Larry 2010-03-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39899&rss With 3D HDTV sets on the shelves (but no 3D channels), content owners fighting with pay TV operators and online video providers over retransmission, and TV Everywhere going commercial, 2010 could be a watershed year for entertainment services. Hettick, Larry 2010-03-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41338&rss Verizon had over 2.8 million FiOS TV customers and 3.4 million FiOS Internet subs by Q4 2009; FiOS TV + FiOS Internet ARPU was over $140. But it continues to lose voice customers with over 19% of primary consumer voice lines lost since 2007. Hettick, Larry 2010-03-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39922&rss Comcast and Time Warner Cable report that almost 60% of their customers buy a bundle. While telcos bundle with wireless voice, cable operators have started to bundle mobile data. Hettick, Larry 2010-03-03T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39921&rss MSOs’ voice market share growth slowed in 2009. Verizon and AT&T killed first-generation VoIP when they dropped VoiceWing and CallVantage, respectively, but AT&T U-verse Voice has succeeded with next-gen VoIP, adding 730,000 subscribers in 2009. Hettick, Larry 2010-03-03T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52681&rss Cablevision will test a remote storage DVR (RS-DVR) that eliminates the need for its in-home DVRs by the end of the year. The RS-DVR gives it a better ROI than premise-based storage and makes deploying other video features easier and faster. Hettick, Larry 2010-03-01T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52652&rss Walmart is buying VUDU as it (again) tries to supply online video on demand. However, with such a crowded online video service market and pay TV’s VoD already widely available, it is unlikely Walmart can gain much traction this year. Hettick, Larry 2010-02-24T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52639&rss Microsoft and Yahoo! received approval for a search engine partnership, but integration will not be seen before the end of 2010. Even with the combined forces of Microsoft and Yahoo!, Google will still dominate the search market for some time. Hettick, Larry 2010-02-22T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52567&rss Google has announced plans to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. It plans Internet speeds of 1 Gigabit per second using fiber-to-the-home connections. Hettick, Larry 2010-02-12T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43041&rss Comcast, the nation’s largest MSO, has a triple play that remains very threatening. DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades, its wireless launch in Portland, and Fancast XFINITY TV will only improve its competitive position. Hettick, Larry - 2010-02-08T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52416&rss Verizon is in the hunt for new residential customers for both its DSL and FiOS bundles by poaching cable subscribers with more competitive pricing schemes for 2010. Also it is armed with new incentives–a $150 card or a sleek Compaq Mini netbook. McGregor, Bruce 2010-01-20T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52377&rss Netflix’s video streaming service is coming to Nintendo’s Wii. The Wii cannot offer HD and requiring a disc to stream content is not ideal, but Netflix has now conquered all three major game consoles. McGregor, Bruce 2010-01-14T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52351&rss If magicJack proceeds as planned, for less than $20 a year it will offer an in-home femtocell substitute service for traditional unlimited local and domestic calling plans -- bypassing domestic GSM networks inside the home. Hettick, Larry 2010-01-11T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52348&rss T-Mobile is phasing out sales of its @Home unlimited VoIP calling service once stocks of the necessary wireline router are depleted. The Unlimited HotSpot Calling add-on is still available on any open hotspot for users with WiFi-capable handsets. Hettick, Larry 2010-01-11T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52339&rss Lost in the 3D hype at CES, Sony also unveiled plans to push PlayStation Network movie and TV content on upcoming broadband-connected BRAVIA HDTVs and Blu-ray players. It is a long overdue move, but it does not add much value. McGregor, Bruce 2010-01-08T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52267&rss Comcast’s On Demand Online is now available nationally and is renamed Fancast XFINITY TV. Yet still it brings no value to the living room TV experience, rather using broadband video access to help retain premium cable TV customers. Hettick, Larry 2009-12-17T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41486&rss Netflix has embedded its video streaming service into a slew of digital home devices from the latest Internet-enabled HDTVs to the $79 Roku Player. With 11 million members strong, Netflix has built a notable entertainment brand. McGregor, Bruce 2009-12-14T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52236&rss AT&T’s new U-verse Max Turbo offers speeds of 24 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream – frequently the fastest game in town. Still, it does not match competitors’ emerging DOCSIS 3.0 tiers. Meanwhile, AT&T scored its two millionth U-verse TV sub. Hettick, Larry 2009-12-10T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52227&rss In October 2008, Cox promised that it would launch wireless services in 2009. Technically, the company made it, but these services are still in the test phase in three markets. Ho, William 2009-12-09T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52212&rss Comcast plans to acquire a controlling interest in NBC Universal via a joint venture with NBCU’s current owner GE. If the deal is approved, Comcast will become the nation’s leader in the development and distribution of entertainment content. Hettick, Larry 2009-12-07T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52215&rss Verizon has taken home shopping to the next level by leveraging its IP platform to allow FiOS TV subscribers to buy via remote as they watch the live HSN channel. Verizon’s not alone here, as Comcast and DISH Network also offer HSN Shop by Remote. McGregor, Bruce 2009-12-07T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52107&rss Charter has emerged from bankruptcy with a 40% debt reduction. Charter can use some of its improved cash flow to enhance its customer service, upgrade its network and generally improve its competitive position. Hettick, Larry 2009-12-02T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52035&rss Small hangups have slightly delayed up to $4 billion to spend on broadband initiatives. When the funding hits, it can distort economics of national telecoms, presenting both opportunities and new headaches for incumbent carriers. Washburn, Brian 2009-11-20T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52025&rss Duplicating features already available on cable TV, AT&T’s two newest U-verse TV applications let users redeem a coupon code on-screen for movie rental discounts and display U-verse Voice caller ID and voicemail notifications on the TV screen. Hettick, Larry 2009-11-18T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51996&rss Sony has added streaming Netflix movies to the PlayStation 3’s long list of features. While a disc is required to get the service to work, Netflix gives the PS3 a competitive weapon to wield against Microsoft and Nintendo this holiday season. McGregor, Bruce 2009-11-12T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51887&rss Best Buy is getting help from CinemaNow to create a new online service linked to many of the digital home devices sold in its stores. Selling movies over the Internet is a tough business, and there is no indication Best Buy can do any better. McGregor, Bruce 2009-11-04T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41409&rss TiVo has gone well beyond recording live TV to offer its DVR owners video streaming from Netflix, Amazon and others. Yet its popularity continues to fade with most choosing basic DVRs directly from their video provider. McGregor, Bruce 2009-11-03T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51823&rss After months of struggling to integrate Verizon wireline assets acquired 18 months ago, FairPoint files for bankruptcy protection. The filing reduces FairPoint’s debt and gives it time to fix problems, but it must also rebuild its credibility. Whelan, Cindy - Hettick, Larry 2009-10-28T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51807&rss As the PR hangover from the Windows 7 launch subsides, consumers are not only getting a better Windows OS in regards to performance and user interface, but as well some great new features that make sharing media files over a home network easier. Greengart, Avi - McGregor, Bruce 2009-10-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51776&rss Comcast is selling Thomson cordless phones that can access Comcast.net email and sports scores – and that’s pretty much it. The phone’s base unit also acts as the house’s cable modem/WiFi router, but it is not a compelling all-in-one solution. McGregor, Bruce 2009-10-21T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51744&rss TWC will officially launch Road Runner Mobile over a 4G Mobile Network in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, NC on December 1, 2009. The service will offering mobile Internet access starting at $34.95 per month with Internet speeds up to 6 Mbps. Hettick, Larry 2009-10-16T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51724&rss Blockbuster comes through and launches its promised online movie service over the TiVo box. It is nothing special compared to Amazon’s offering already available on TiVo or the cable companies’ video-on-demand services through the cable box. McGregor, Bruce 2009-10-14T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51709&rss Comcast introduced a free Internet security program “Constant Guard” in a Denver trial to help protect its broadband customers from bots, viruses and other online threats. Its components include software, proactive monitoring and education. Hettick, Larry 2009-10-13T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51675&rss Vonage has launched Vonage Mobile, its first mobile calling application for smartphones. The service saves customers more than 50% on calls to dozens of countries versus the rates charged by the wireless carriers. Hettick, Larry 2009-10-07T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51642&rss Verizon discontinued its Hub device less than a year after launching it in February 2009. Sadly, Verizon could not adequately sell the device’s merits of combining residential VoIP with touchscreen Internet applications. McGregor, Bruce 2009-10-01T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51620&rss Time Warner Cable finally announced DOCSIS 3.0 in some areas of the company’s New York City territory, with up to 50 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream for $99.95 per month. Questions remain about the rest of TWC’s nationwide footprint. Hettick, Larry 2009-09-28T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51598&rss In a perplexing move, Blockbuster announced marketing alliances with two cable companies. Branding itself with established cable VoD services will do little to reestablish Blockbuster’s dominance in the home video market. McGregor, Bruce 2009-09-23T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51564&rss Cablevision announced the planned launch of Optimum Select, providing interactive on-screen advertising simultaneously with broadcast TV programming. How will it integrate targeted ads and work with Project Canoe initiatives? Hettick, Larry 2009-09-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51548&rss Verizon expands the FiOS TV Internet widget portfolio to include online photos from KODAK Gallery. Now hundreds of personal photos posted on the KODAK Gallery Website can be viewable directly on a FiOS-connected television. McGregor, Bruce 2009-09-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51535&rss AT&T improved upon its already first-class pay TV service by adding more U-verse TV features. These include the ability to watch four TV channels at once for an easier way to see what’s on and access to music and photo files located on a PC. McGregor, Bruce 2009-09-16T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51452&rss eBay, which never made good on integrating Skype, plans to sell off 65% of Skype to investors, losing $900 million in the process. The sale will not impact Skype’s current operations and its customer base will be unaffected in the near term. Hettick, Larry 2009-09-03T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51417&rss Time Warner Cable joins Comcast and Verizon in the TV Everywhere initiative trial. Though it has more content than Verizon and bests Comcast with ubiquitous Internet access, its usage cap and DOCSIS 3.0 delays may prevent its success. Hettick, Larry 2009-08-28T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51411&rss Verizon launched a trial to bring Turner Networks TV programming to several thousand FiOS TV users’ PCs. Using any broadband connection, participants can access the online programming at the networks' Web sites with an authorized account. Hettick, Larry 2009-08-28T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51381&rss Focusing on its wireless strengths, AT&T offers a new bundle discount that links wireless plans with U-verse TV and Internet. It also offers a $20-$30 discounted triple play that features unlimited mobile messaging. Hettick, Larry - Karthikeyan, Deepa 2009-08-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51394&rss Verizon is arming its FiOS customers with free software tools to minimize issues that normally require calling a customer service rep for help. Customer self-help solutions can increase customer satisfaction and reduce a service provider’s costs. McGregor, Bruce 2009-08-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51343&rss Vonage now provides unlimited calling around the world (60-plus countries) for the flat monthly rate of $24.99. In addition, its visual voicemail service now delivers "readable voicemail" via e-mail or SMS text free with this calling plan. Hettick, Larry 2009-08-21T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51276&rss Roku makes the remaining months of the MLB season a little more enjoyable for baseball fans by introducing MLB.TV Premium to its Internet video player. $34.95 for the rest of this 2009 season is a steal with HDTV access to almost 100 games a week. McGregor, Bruce 2009-08-13T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51234&rss TiVo teams up with RCN, and unlike past deals with Comcast and Cox, this one places TiVo as the primary DVR platform for the cable operator. However, this won’t immediately turnaround TiVo’s slumping revenues, with the launch delayed until 2010. McGregor, Bruce 2009-08-05T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51204&rss Clearwire announces September 1, 2009 availability for 4G services in ten Tier 2 cities in Washington, Texas and Idaho. However, Clearwire’s promise to deliver services in the top-tier metros remains unanswered. Hettick, Larry 2009-08-04T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51205&rss Netflix earned a small victory by securing the rights to stream reruns of popular ABC dramas such as “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives.” Providing more TV show reruns on Watch Instantly only gets it so far; what it really needs is fresher content. McGregor, Bruce 2009-08-04T00:00:00-04:00