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[WanMan]

AT&T and Microsoft to Enable Shared Content Across TV, PC and Mobile Devices

AT&T chooses Microsoft PlayReady content access and protection technology to enable next-generation entertainment services across its mobile and in-home offerings.
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AT&T Web site

DALLAS and REDMOND, Wash. — March 31, 2009 — Microsoft Corp. and AT&T* announced today a collaborative effort to use Microsoft PlayReady content access and protection technology to enable shared content and converged entertainment experiences across AT&T’s TV, broadband and wireless services.

As part of this collaboration, Microsoft intends to add support for PlayReady into its Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV software platform, enabling access to PlayReady-based content through AT&T U-verse TV set-top boxes.

“We’re committed to offering compelling entertainment experiences across a wide variety of platforms and devices,” said Brian Shay, senior vice president of Converged Services, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “PlayReady will help us give customers broader access to compelling content.”

“AT&T’s vision of converged entertainment services is something we share, and our collaboration on the use of PlayReady technology for content access and protection represents a significant milestone toward the future of integrated entertainment across multiple screens,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the TV, Video and Music Business Group at Microsoft. “Through the power of software such as PlayReady and Mediaroom, AT&T will bring its customers an exciting new range of services and content.”

PlayReady is designed to enable digital entertainment services across devices and software applications, with a specific focus on meeting the needs of mobile and network operators, service providers and device manufacturers. PlayReady supports a broad range of business models that can be applied to almost any type of digital content and a wide range of formats. PlayReady also provides features such as service domains and embedded licenses specifically designed to make it easy for consumers to enjoy content on all their registered devices without the need of an active connection.

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

I do not get it. If you are in control already over the entire structure of the IPTV, PC, and mobile devices then why do you need DRM in the first place? I get Microsoft being arse-dumb, but does AT&T have to be just like them in their eternal dumb-arseness, too?

Yet another reason why to avoid AT&T and every single one of their services. I give this

[Ridebreck]

Phuck AT&T. After the crap that they're pulling in my neighborhood, I'll be sure to avoid them at all costs. The money-grubbing pricks worked an under-the-table deal with the HOA in the neighborhood to bring in their version of Verizon's Fios. The catch? It's a mafia contract - once you're in at that address, that address is locked in for life. WTF?!? I don't see how it's legal, but that's what their fine print says. The balls on them to try and pull that. No way in hell am I signing up.

[emdawgz1]

[WanMan]