BT Sticks With Microsoft for IPTV

BT Group plc (NYSE: BT; London: BTA) says it's quite happy with the Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) Mediaroom platform for IPTV, thank you much, and denies a rumor that it's given up the Redmond, Wash., way for a fling with Concurrent Computer Corp. (Nasdaq: CCUR).

"BT would like to confirm that this rumour is completely false and that BT continues to work closely with Microsoft and its Mediaroom platform," a spokeswoman wrote in an email to Light Reading.

That would appear to quash the Concurrent theory, which reached Light Reading earlier this month. (See Rumor: Microsoft Losing an IPTV Biggie.) BT says it's not working with Concurrent at all for its BT Vision service, which has 451,000 customers.

Any sign of weakness in Microsoft's Mediaroom franchise would be welcome by rivals, considering Microsoft's plum customer lineup, which includes AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), BT, Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE: DT), Portugal Telecom SGPS SA (NYSE: PT), and Swisscom AG (NYSE: SCM).

— Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading