Cisco, AT&T offer Wi-Fi IPTV

Cisco this week said it launched a wireless IPTV service with AT&T. Cisco says it is the sole provider of the wireless IPTV system, including receivers and access points, for AT&T's U-verse service.

The Cisco gear will be deployed across the entire U-verse footprint beginning Monday, October 31.

The system is intended to allow consumers to access high-definition video services throughout their homes wirelessly, enabling them to watch TV in any room in their home even if that room is not wired for TV.  Content is sent from the Cisco wireless access point via in-home Wi-Fi to the Cisco wireless receiver next to the TV.

The TV itself just has to be plugged into a power source and have a high-definition multimedia interface or other audio visual connection, and then the wireless connection can be established by clicking two buttons, Cisco says.

Cisco's wireless TV system delivers both standard definition and high definition programming to multiple receivers with integrated Wi-Fi. One access point per home can support two wireless receivers connected to TVs, Cisco says.

The receiver and access point - their brand names are the ISB7005 and VEN401, respectively -- are part of Cisco's Videoscape line of Internet TV products unveiled at the CES show in Las Vegas early this year. The Videoscape strategy was thought to be in danger this summer as Cisco essentially gutted its consumer business, followed by the departure of the head of its Service Provider Video Technology Group.

But then last week, Cisco acquired startup BNI Video, a maker of video delivery software for service providers, for $99 million. Cisco said BNI would help to advance its Videoscape strategy.

Getting back to the wireless IPTV products, Cisco's ISB7005 wireless receiver is designed to deliver live TV channels and interactive services, and also functions as an HD DVR. Consumers can view and manage DVR recordings wirelessly from a wired DVR in the home, Cisco says.

For the service provider, the Wi-Fi TV setup allows them to possibly differentiate their video offerings and ease home installation while accelerating service activation. The integrated Wi-Fi receiver also includes remote diagnostics so service providers can monitor the device's performance over the network, Cisco says.

The Wi-Fi IPTV products are based on the IEEE 802.11n standard, Cisco says, and include enhancements to manage delivery of video over Wi-Fi.