Telecom Lead America: Comcast has launched the X1 Platform from Xfinity in the Greater Baltimore area.
The X1 Platform uses IP technology and cloud servers on Comcast’s network to create the world’s first entertainment operating system. It integrates the largest collection of video with social media features, interactive apps, web content and more in one easy-to-navigate, sleek viewing experience.
“X1 offers an entirely new and personalized way for our customers to experience their TV and entertainment,” said Tom Coughlin, regional senior vice president for Comcast. “X1 transforms our video product from a hardware experience to a software experience, allowing us to deliver new features and functionality to our customers faster than ever before.”
The launch of X1 in the Greater Baltimore area is part of Comcast’s ongoing efforts to take advantage of IP technology and the cloud to constantly bring new innovations to market.
X1 features a modern user interface that enables one-click access to programs and a highly visual guide to entertainment options and related information. It provides a personalized viewing experience with recommendations based on search input and previously watched shows and movies.
Further the solution has the ability to search simultaneously across live TV, Xfinity on Demand and DVR recordings – and see the last nine programs watched across all services with a single tap on the remote control. Users can watch DVR recordings from any room in the house and simultaneously record up to four shows while watching another
An expanding selection of tailored-for-TV apps, including social networking, traffic, weather, Pandora and a sports app helps track multiple games at once and check the latest scores, standings, and schedules while watching a favorite show.
Additionally, X1 has the ability to fling a Web page, like one that features streaming video, directly to the X1 set top box and view it on the big screen. An enhanced remote control offers greater responsiveness and does not require a line-of-sight connection to the set-top-box. Users can also use motions, gestures, and voice commands to control their TVs with their Apple handheld devices.
X1 will initially be available to new Xfinity Triple Play customers in the Greater Baltimore area, and will become available to additional customers segments in the future. The X1 Platform is currently available in 13 markets and Comcast plans to launch the service in all remaining markets by the end of the year.
