Sounds like a luxury IT news this time, however it’s the first time I hear such a news world-wide.
To prevail in a fierce competition still ongoing on its market (with a lot of delays for optical fiber deployment – “Fiber To The Home” to boost speed), Free (top 3 Internet service provider in France) just announced the release of a new kind of “Internet home box” ready for quadruple play internet access. They recently acquired one mobile operator license to that end, and planning to include one mobile communication hour in the monthly fee.
First, design is fairly innovative, like expected from this world-class designer, Philippe Starck. The clock is also a tactile menu, that changes position if you switch the box from horizontal to vertical standing.
As you can see, it’s actually made of 2 boxes, one for Internet access and phone (also network storage), the other dealing with TV and games (usually connected together with a PLC plug or standard network cable).
Why did they make such a move? To differentiate from competition, of course. Also, to lay the ground before Google TV and other projects seriously appear in Europe’s households.
But there is more to it : with the highest ARPU on the market because of constant leadership with innovation, they want to make even more cash from each user.
That’s why they want to move the shift from a purely practical object (to do Internet access) to a more emotional one.
Because, they want it to beat competition too, and that people buy more IPTV (like Vod movies) and start to buy games and apps specifically designed for them.
Meaning that the company (already tried) but tries again to enter the console market (though, it would be rather casual games, I think). Not to mention Internet Service Providers stand at the top of the value chain, directly dealing with distribution and sales. Apart from the design, I also enjoy many other solid technical innovations, including:
Main box
Dual Internet access (optical fiber or DSL)
4 gigabits ethernet plugs, integrated router
Wifi 802. 11 n 3à—3 45 mb/s
DECT phone capability (up 8 phones)
250 GB, NAS-enabled hard-drive remotely loggable
Smart TV box
Atom CPU, 1,2Ghz
1080p (Full HD)
Wiimote-like remote, radio-technology-based to avoid being in front of tv to switch channel, also designed by Starck
Gameloft will distribute games
TV program and movie critics from local partner
Simple management of music, videos, games and apps
iPhone and iPad compatible (to control the virtual keyboard, when surfing the net)
Integrated browser
Virtual keyboard (even through iPad or wireless keyboard)
Integrated CD / DVD / Bluray player managing Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG, Divx so on..
Open Os for developers (trying to create ecosystem with Freestore)
Anyway, it evolves all the time, but I think this approach might be followed in other countries. But I’m still waiting for massive, low-cost FFTH like in Japan! All providers are so lazy to lay down fiber to every home, it’s a shame (around 50/60 USD for a plain symetrical fiber connection: 100/100Mpbs /second by NTT: Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp, the equivalent of european Orange or US ATT).
One good point still standing in France, Free’s CEO (Xavier Niel) confirmed that a small country like us is now the first IPTV market in the world (pay per view movies, channels, so on). Just before China, but that won’t last long Update 01/21/11: This offer now includes unlimited mobile phone calls from your home phone only in France. One large competitor already followed this new milestone.
Update 01/21/11: This offer now includes unlimited mobile phone calls from your home phone only in France. One large competitor already followed this new milestone.
One update about mobile phone bundled now with the whole quad-play offer.