Home

SBC

SBC Announces Set-top Vendors, Details for Internet TV Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 18, 2005 - 8:57am.
San Antonio -- SBC Communications announced on Thursday that it has signed Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola to supply set-top boxes for its planned service that will deliver TV programming over broadband lines (IPTV). The IPTV set-top boxes, which will run on Microsoft's IPTV software, will come without traditional tuners, allowing them to receive multiple video streams, and will feature next-generation compression technology enabling them to store content more efficiently on their digital video recorders. The SBC U-verse TV service is scheduled to launch in limited markets in late 2005 or early 2006. The company then plans to expand the service in mid-2006, adding features like whole-home digital video recording and HDTV.
tags: Details | Set-top Vendors | SBC | Internet TV Service |

Verizon, SBC Lobby Congress for Lax Regulations on New Video Services

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 20, 2005 - 8:13am.
Washington -- Telecommunications firms Verizon and SBC Communications, which are preparing to launch Internet-based video services, argued for looser regulations for such expanded services at a hearing Wednesday before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications. "The FCC and Congress have so far employed a light-touch approach to regulating the Internet and IP-based services," testified SBC senior executive vice president Lee Ann Champion. "We are not building a cable network, nor do we have any interest in being a cable company offering traditional cable service. Instead, we intend to offer customers a new total communications experience." Later this year, Verizon plans to launch an Internet-based TV service called FiOS TV, which it hopes to offer to 3 million homes by the end of the year. It has already signed up NBC Universal and Starz to provide content for the service. SBC has invested $4 billion in its Project Lightspeed, which aims to deploy services including IPTV to 18 million households in 13 states within three years. The hearing on new technologies was scheduled as Congress examines new legislation that would update the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to account for new technologies.
tags: Verizon | Congress | SBC | Lax Regulations | New Video Services |

SBC to Offer Joint Satellite TV, Broadband Internet Content Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 3, 2005 - 3:56am.
San Antonio -- Telecommunications giant SBC Communications announced on Monday that it has formed a joint venture with 2Wire to offer a service that combines satellite TV programming with Internet-based video-on-demand, music and other digital media applications. The service will feature a set-top box designed by San Jose, Calif.-based 2Wire that includes a satellite TV receiver, digital video recorder and storage for digital photos and music. Music will be offered through Yahoo's Launchcast Internet radio service, while the recording of TV programs will be enabled both online, and via cell phones through a partnership with Cingular Wireless. The service will be available to customers who subscribe to both SBC DISH Network satellite TV and SBC Yahoo DSL services beginning in mid-2005.
tags: SBC | Joint Satellite TV | Broadband Internet |

Yahoo Extends, Expands Relationship with SBC

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 19, 2004 - 4:48am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- SBC Communications, a provider of telephone and DSL Internet services, said on Thursday that it has signed a multi-year extension of its alliance with Yahoo to offer co-branded DSL and dial-up services. The companies also unveiled plans to extend the SBC Yahoo brand beyond the PC to home television and audio systems, Cingular wireless phones, SBC Wi-Fi and SBC home networking equipment. The deal will allow consumers to access personalized entertainment and communications content from multiple devices. The first new products developed as part of the expanded alliance will be available in 2005. SBC and Yahoo first announced their alliance in November 2001 and launched co-branded DSL and dial-up services less than a year later.
tags: Deals | Yahoo | SBC |

SBC Signs 10-Year, $400 Million Deal to Use Microsoft IPTV Software

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 17, 2004 - 5:08am.
San Antonio, Texas -- SBC Communications announced on Wednesday that it has signed a ten-year, $400 million agreement with Microsoft to deploy the company's Internet-based TV (IPTV) service software to its customers. The deal is the second recent major deployment for Microsoft's struggling TV-based initiatives, after cable TV operator Comcast announced earlier this month that it will deploy set-top boxes running Microsoft software to 1 million of its subscribers. The services deployed to SBC customers, scheduled to begin testing in mid-2005 with commercial deployment by the end of the year, will include an interactive program guide, video-on-demand and digital video recording. SBC plans to spend $5 billion over three years to upgrade its network to foster deployment of video and other broadband services.
tags: Deals | Microsoft | IPTV Software | SBC |

SBC to Add EchoStar Satellite TV to Roster of Telephone, DSL Services

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 4, 2004 - 6:47am.
San Antonio, Texas -- Telecommunications giant SBC announced that it has partnered with satellite TV operator EchoStar to offer its telephone and Internet subscribers the additional option to purchase DISH Network satellite TV service. SBC will offer a promotional bundle of services that includes local and long-distance telephone service, as well as a wireless plan from Cingular, broadband Internet access and 120 satellite TV channels for $125 per month -- which SBC says will give annual savings of $380 per customer over a la carte rates. SBC and EchoStar also said they plan to develop set-top boxes that combine the features of satellite TV, digital video recording, broadband, home networking and telecommunications services.
tags: EchoStar | Satellite TV | Roster | Telephone | SBC | DSL Services |

SBC to Market Yahoo-Branded DSL Service at 2,000 Retail Stores

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 8, 2003 - 6:18am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Trying to grow its market share in the high-speed Internet segment, SBC Communications said that it has struck deals with several major retailers to make its joint DSL offering with Yahoo available at more than 2,000 stores across the company's 13-state operating region. Under the deal, chains such as Best Buy, RadioShack, Cingular Wireless and Gateway will sell the service. The service is also available at Staples and Micro Center stores through an agreement with GetConnected, as well as at Sam's Club, OfficeMax, BJ's Wholesale Club, Menards, Kmart and Super Kmart through an agreement with Wireless Retail.
tags: SBC | Yahoo-Branded | DSL Service |

RIAA Wins Transfer of SBC Subpoena Challenge Case to D.C.

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 2, 2003 - 6:53am.
San Francisco -- A federal judge in San Francisco has agreed to transfer a case challenging the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) subpoenas for the identities of SBC Internet subscribers accused of illicit file-sharing to the District of Columbia, a potential coup for the RIAA. The D.C. District Court previously ruled in the RIAA's favor in a challenge to the subpoenas launched by another ISP, Verizon. "Since the DC court has already addressed most of the challenges raised by SBC and resolved them in RIAA's favor, we believe that the decision to transfer the case throws a significant monkey wrench into SBC's case," said RIAA president Cary Sherman. In a statement, SBC said it was undeterred. "This ruling is procedural in nature and does not address the substantive issues we are raising about the recording industry's continued misapplication of [Digital Millennium Copyright Act] subpoena power."
tags: RIAA | Subpoena | SBC | D.C. |

SBC, RIAA in Court Friday Over Subpoenas for File-Swapper Identities

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 21, 2003 - 7:13am.
San Francisco -- Internet service provider SBC Communications and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) will be in court on Friday, battling over whether SBC should be compelled to turn over the identities of certain of its Internet subscribers the RIAA believes infringed copyrights on music file-sharing services. The RIAA filed subpoenas for the users' identities, and SBC sued, arguing that the process by which the RIAA obtained the subpoenas was unconstitutional. Fellow ISP Verizon also sued over similar subpoenas, but a federal judge agreed with the RIAA and ordered subscriber identities turned over to the RIAA, which promptly sued many of the individuals for copyright infringement. CNET News.com reported that on Friday Judge Susan Illston will hear arguments for both the RIAA's motion to dismiss the suit, as well as SBC's motion for summary judgment. Lawyers told News.com a ruling is not immediately expected.
tags: Law | RIAA | Subpoenas | File-Swapper | SBC |

SBC Adds 365,000 New DSL Subscribers in Third Quarter

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 21, 2003 - 3:46am.
San Antonio, Texas -- SBC Communications, one of the nation's largest telecommunications firms and a provider of broadband DSL Internet access, announced on Tuesday that it now counts 3.1 million DSL customers, having added 365,000 new subscribers in the third quarter of its fiscal year. The company added 304,000 subscribers in the previous quarter. Texas-based SBC partnered with Yahoo for a co-branded dial-up and DSL Internet access service, which currently is featuring a promotion offering a year of DSL service for $26.95 per month.
tags: Subscribers | DSL | Third Quarter | SBC |

NY Times: SBC Emerges as News Corp. Competitor for DirecTV

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 7, 2003 - 3:48am.
New York -- The New York Times on Friday reported that telephone and Internet giant SBC Communications has entered "serious negotiations" to acquire General Motors' DirecTV satellite TV operations in a deal reportedly worth $10 billion. The Times cited "people close to the talks" in its story, but neither SBC nor General Motors would specifically comment on the matter. Following the failed merger of DirecTV and satellite TV rival EchoStar, which did not pass regulatory antitrust approval, News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch emerged as the leading suitor for DirecTV. Those close to the talks told The Times that General Motors approached SBC early this year about challenging Murdoch's bid, and that the two companies have been in talks ever since.
tags: DirecTV | NY Times | News Corp | SBC |