Here in the U.S. we will see Microsoft TV's IPTV platform in full sway at AT&T installations. With what I've witnessed during controled demonstrations, it is impressive. Verizon also is using portions (but not all) of Microsoft's software. But in Europe, two incumbent telcos have launched Microsoft IPTV services over the past few weeks: Switzerland's Swisscom and Deutsche Telekom's T-Com.

Swisscom's service is called Bluewin TV. I remember reporting over a year ago about this service launch being postponed because of rumored problems with Microsoft TV.

With one year of tweaking, the service offers over 100 regional, national and international regular linear TV channels; over 70 radio channels; up to 30 optional channels from premium programming providers; and around 500 movies-on-demand. The digital video recorder (DVR) offers 100 hours of recording and the ability to schedule recordings remotely via the Internet or mobile phone.

However, the company cautions that Bluewin TV "is not available over every phone line": its combined DSL services currently reach around 75% of Swiss households, while its VDSL service currently reaches 65%. Swisscom is competing against the dominant incumbent cable operator Cablecom.

T-Com just launched its T-Home triple-play service. The IPTV service offers more than 100 free and pay-TV channels. It includes VOD, which T-Com claims is the only VOD service in Germany to feature current titles from the Hollywood studios, Universal, Dreamworks, 20th Century Fox, MGM, Paramount, Warner and Sony; PVR functionality; and live HDTV.

Not being a resident in Europe, I've relied upon service descriptions from itvt.com.