Unusual rumors that have surfaced on Monday claim Apple to be in talks with Canadian cable providers Bell and Rogers regarding its fabled television set. Another source familiar with the matter reported that both already have Apple TV in their labs, though all three companies said the comment is false. “Apple is not closed to negotiating with one or two,” the source stated. “They’re looking for a partner with wireless and broadband capabilities.”
The upcoming TV set will allegedly feature Siri voice assistant to help users make programming choices using their voice as well as gesture controls. In a similar manner, viewers will also be able to activate an on-screen keyboard, surfing the web, visiting social media sites like Facebook and Twitter and conducting video charts without any physical interface.
According to Peter Misek with Jeffries, Apple’s anticipated iTV product will also function as a gaming platform, likely being interoperable with mobile devices, as the company’s patents suggest. The Cupertino handset builder, to his mind, is in a favorable position to leverage potential deals with carriers to gain access to a wide range of content. In his Monday research note, the analyst wrote: “It is likely to be offered by Verizon and AT&T in U.S. and Bell and Rogers in Canada.”
At the first sight, Apple’s initial negotiations with Bell and Rogers seem to put rival Telus Corp. at a competitive disadvantage. Sources claim, however, that Telus is on the verge of introducing new technology that would provide its customers with the ability to use voice commands and hand gestures to control its Optik TV product. Facilitated by current Xbox 360 hardware, these new features would see Telus being a pioneer with such an offering. Moreover, its Optik TV service would be extended to computers and tablets via a home Wi-Fi connection as well as to smartphones on its wireless network thanks to other upcoming enhancements.
In the meantime, broadcasters are doing their best to avoid the fate of record labels, which experienced a drastic drop in sales when Apple set its eyes on the recording industry. The content owners can attempt to position themselves to profit from the partnership, experimenting with the iPhone maker’s products.
Consumers are already demonstrating the tendency to watch shows on their own terms, moving away from traditional programming. As of January, 38% of viewers prefer to record their favorite shows rather than watch them live. This figure is down to 27% with inclusion of on-demand services like Netflix. Being major content holders, however, both Bell and Rogers will manage to generate revenue though licensing agreements even if they lose subscribers.
Apple needs to find the source of these leaks and fire the employees or drop the vendors responsible
Really hard to believe apple would be handing out prototype’s of unreleased products, unless the post-Jobs Apple doesn’t give a shit about secrecy.
How exactly would a Verizon/At&T serviced television work?
I’m betting this whole thing is a huge pack of lies. Of course, these numerous leaks could also be a disinformation campaign from Apple to suss out leakers.
I sure hope that Shaw will be in the running to offer it. Given that they have the fastest broadband in North America and own stations like Global, they shouldn’t be left out.
I see how Bell and AT&T can deliver the feeds, but Rogers and Verizon I just don’t get it. Those guys have land lines? They are going to offer wireless TV packages ?!?
Thats why I was asking if they had land lines. I have no idea I don’t live in the US. If those leaks are true Apple is moving for an IPTV device, which makes sense because its next gen tech.
to 2Dave
So my 30/30 Mb/s Verizon Fiber Optic Internet connection is a figment of my imagination? o,O
I wonder if the real iTV is involved in this imaginary iTV.
2 Dahid
Likely they will become involved at the appropriate time, as the Plaintiff.
2 Dahid
The “real” ITV is actually not spelled with a lowercase “i” and is not “the real” anything. It’s just a TV station. Get over yourself.