Telstra are broadening their home entertainment interests with the T-Box, a digital HD set-top box that will deliver Bigpond internet content into the home, along with PVR functionality.
The device combines a PVR for watching, recording, and pausing and rewinding live digital TV, as well as WiFi and Ethernet for access to streaming movies and Internet TV from the Bigpond site.
The T-Box will be trialed at the beginning of next month by Melbourne Telstra cable customers as part of an upgrade by Telstra of cable speeds in that city to 100Mbits. Further trials expected for ADSL2+ subscribers at a later date.
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| Telstra's T-Box: for the time being, only for Melbourne cable users |
Telstra T-Box - hardware specifications:
- Dual HD DVB-T tuners
- A/V connectivity: HDMI port (HDCP compatible), Mini Din to Composite and Component, 1 SPDIF optical connector, 1 mini-jack stereo
- 802.11g WiFi, 10/100 Base T Ethernet
- 200GB PVR storage
- Supports external USB drive
Codecs supported:
Video decoding: MPEG-4 part10 (H.264) BP@L3, MP@L4.1, HP@4.1 WMV9/VC-1 MP@HL and VC-1 AP@L3 MPEG-4 part2 ASP@L5 MPEG-2 MP@HL, MPEG-1 Multi-decoding Up to 2xHD or 6xSD or 16xCIF streams PiP, PiG, GiP
Audio decoding: MPEG-4 AAC LC and HE, MPEG-4 BSAC, MPEG-1/2 layer I, II and III, WMA9/pro, Dolby Digital 5.1, plus 7.1, lossless 7.1, DTS
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| Telstra's T-Box Remote |
Unlike Foxtel's IQ2, Telstra is keen to promote the fact that the T-Box has no monthly subscription costs, though users will need to pay for Internet access. There is a rental charge for Telstra's Bigpond Movie rentals, but users also get unmetered access to seven BigPond channels: BigPond Live News TV, Racing TV, Sport TV, League TV, Footy TV, V8 TV and Music TV.
The T-Box program guide will integrate these Bigpond services with free-to-air programming. Video on demand (VOD) services are also expected to be launched with the service, in the same way that Tivo has teamed with Blockbuster movies on demand.
Telstra confirmed that they are working with Foxtel on a future video on demand service.
"Foxtel is closely working with us...we don't see it as competitive", said Telstra Managing Director of Product Management, Ms Holly Kramer. "We think there is plenty of demand interest for the extra content".
But the PVR showdown isn't over yet. Foxtel recently added a number of new and revamped channels to their IQ product recently, while on November 25th, TiVo will also announce some new changes to their broadband on demand service.
No pricing has been announced for the T-Box as yet. Telstra confirmed a national rollout is planned, but this is not expected until later next year.
Also see: 5 tips for buying a digital TV set top box
Also see: our series on Picking the Perfect Home Entertainment Box