Hopes for Telco triple-play go back some time, observed Phil Corman, Director of Microsoft TV, and as the US West Choice TV & Online service demonstrated, the results have been disappointing -- So why now? For telcos, it is becoming a matter of simple survival, said Corman, and compared to earlier efforts, this time the technology is ready. An important starting point, said Corman, is to consider what IPTV is not. �IPTV is not video streaming over the Internet, watching TV on your PC or merely a best-efforts video service. It has to be based on a proven business model.� Corman believes a key to the new paradigm will be the Electronic Program Guide that allows users to navigate the service. One of the benchmarks for enabling IPTV is the establishment of a viable ecosystem of technology suppliers and content providers. Microsoft�s recently announced strategic partnership with Alcatel is aimed at achieving this goal, explained Corman. Microsoft�s other IPTV partners include Tandberg and Harmonic for video headend. At the client side, Microsoft is looking for mass-market IP set-boxes at price points below $100. Here partners include Thomson, Samsung, Sigma Designs, ST and Intel. Corman said Microsoft currently has about a dozen customers for its IPTV service, including the recent high-profile wins at BellSouth, SBC and Verizon.
The evolution from conversational artificial intelligence to action-oriented AI agents represents one of the most significant shifts in enterprise technology we've seen in years. While Generative AI impressed us with its ability to understand and respond to customer queries, it remained fundamentally passive. It's a sophisticated oracle that could inform but not act. AI agents change this equation entirely, transforming customer service from a reactive information exchange into a proactive problem-solving engine. AI Agents Market Development What distinguishes AI agents from their conversational predecessors is their ability to integrate with APIs, tools, and databases to actually execute tasks. They don't just tell a customer how to cancel an order or reschedule an appointment; they do it. This shift from directing customers to acting on their behalf marks a fundamental reimagining of the customer experience. A Market Poised for Explosive Growth According to the latest ma...