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AT&T Confirms Xbox 360 As U-Verse Set Top
$99 kit, $55 installation fee and tech visit required...
Confirming leaks from last week, AT&T today officially announced support for the use of the Xbox 360 as a U-Verse IPTV set top box. According to the announcement, users will need to shell out $99 for an "Xbox kit" -- and they'll need to schedule a technician visit for a software installation. That install will be free for new users, but existing customers will have to pay a $55 installation fee. You'll also have to have at least one other AT&T set top in your home, according to AT&T. Since Microsoft's Mediaroom powers the company's existing U-verse IPTV set tops, using the 360 as a set top was a no brainer -- but it took several years of promises before this actually came to be.
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rit56
join:2000-12-01
New York, NY

rit56

Member

I have a question

Why do existing customers have to pay 55 dollars? Why is it so acceptable now to screw people? Why do you have to have a second box in your home? To be billed more charges? So people who live in small units are screwed?

aztecnology
O Rly?
Premium Member
join:2003-02-12
Murrieta, CA

aztecnology

Premium Member

Re: I have a question

Why the hell do they need to roll a tech to install software...?

Lame.

They need to figure out a way to make this available nationwide to anyone who has the bandwidth and a 360...

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: I have a question

said by aztecnology:

Why the hell do they need to roll a tech to install software...?

Lame.

They need to figure out a way to make this available nationwide to anyone who has the bandwidth and a 360...
+1 on everything he said!

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536 to aztecnology

Premium Member

to aztecnology
said by aztecnology:

Why the hell do they need to roll a tech to install software?
$ame rea$on a truck roll i$ required for a cablecard in$tall
texasguy37
Premium Member
join:2009-05-18
Grand Prairie, TX

2 edits

texasguy37 to rit56

Premium Member

to rit56
I think the AT&T deal is better than the one being offered by the Canadian company Telus which is the only other IPTV service that allows an Xbox 360 to be uses as an STB.

With Telus, a tech vist is also required and $100 fee. Also, unlike AT&T, there is still a $5/month "digital service fee" for using the Xbox 360 as an STB. In comparison the AT&T deal in much better!

»www.telus.com/content/tv ··· ware.jsp
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4 to rit56

Member

to rit56
be glad they're not charging for the first STB to start off with. and its $55 for the visit. It could be like Telus. and plus its ATT why do they need a reason to screw existing customers?

insomniac84
join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN

insomniac84 to rit56

Member

to rit56
The second box is needed because the box streams the channels to the xbox 360.

The xbox 360 cannot be hooked directly to the IPTV.

Kosh
We are all Kosh
Premium Member
join:2005-11-16
Z'ha'dum

Kosh to rit56

Premium Member

to rit56
Stop asking such questions, and DROP YOUR PANTS, CITIZEN..
LineNoise
join:2006-06-25
Downers Grove, IL

LineNoise

Member

LOL

Sad thing is the only reason they'll get away with this, is that Little Timmy will make Mommy and Daddy pay for it.

$154, what a joke.
shoan
join:2006-02-27
Benton, AR

shoan

Member

do you have to go gold

I still have not found clarification on this one but do you have to Sub to xbox live gold service to do this. I honestly would not be surprised if you do. I just don't see any need for this service at this moment with all the charges. You have to have the xbox 360 running as a set top box for 22 months before you recoup the charges, two freaking years is just absurd. And by that time we will be getting close to having new consoles. The next generation which should be announced in a year or so. Then what they will pop us again for install charges and kits. The xbox kit is bull, a software patch and plugging your console into the network which will most likely be on the network in the first place. Hey AT&T guess what we patch out own consoles all the time with mandatory updates we don't need a truck roll to patch a console.
shoan

shoan

Member

Re: do you have to go gold

Ok I found my answer in the bottom print sorta it says that you have to subscribe to xbox live. But it does not say silver or gold. I do not pay for gold right now and not really wanting to. So this would end up costing me more per month to go this route than what I already have.
Madtown
Premium Member
join:2008-04-26
93637-2905

Madtown

Premium Member

Re: do you have to go gold

said by shoan:

Ok I found my answer in the bottom print sorta it says that you have to subscribe to xbox live. But it does not say silver or gold. I do not pay for gold right now and not really wanting to. So this would end up costing me more per month to go this route than what I already have.
Gold is $50.00 per year.

The_ANoN
@charter.com

The_ANoN

Anon

Re: do you have to go gold

said by Madtown:

Gold is $50.00 per year.
Starting next month it will be $60 per year.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

1 edit

en102 to Madtown

Member

to Madtown
So let see....
$60/year for 'gold' to M$ + $154 of installation fees:
vs.
$10/month for a box from AT$T.

I see nothing good here. It'll cost you a couple of years in payments vs. an AT&T box.
AT&T gets their money up front (installer), and still makes monthly fees (have to have at least one AT&T box).
Microsoft gets a yearly fee.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: do you have to go gold

said by en102:

So let see....
$50/year for 'gold' to M$ + $154 of installation fees:
vs.
$10/month for a box from AT$T.

I see nothing good here. It'll cost you a couple of years in payments vs. an AT&T box.
Except the people interested in this ALREADY have U-verse and are ALREADY paying for a STB. And also, users interested in this ALREADY have an Xbox and are ALREADY paying for an Xbox live subscription. So their monthly fees won't change at all. SO all they need to do is pay the upfront fee.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

1 recommendation

en102

Member

Re: do you have to go gold

Well, if you're already paying a monthly fee on Xbox, then its not _really_ a bad deal, with the exception of the AT&T bribe (install fee)
texasguy37
Premium Member
join:2009-05-18
Grand Prairie, TX

1 edit

texasguy37 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
Exactly! I don't think anyone is going go out to purchase an Xbox 360 and subscribe to Xbox Live because they want to avoid paying the $7/month STB fee. That would make no sense. This feature is for those who already have everything in place.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to shoan

Premium Member

to shoan
said by shoan:

The xbox kit is bull, a software patch and plugging your console into the network which will most likely be on the network in the first place.
Also includes a remote control.

MrStanFan
join:2010-09-19

MrStanFan

Member

This Is Just Stupid

When it all comes down it's just cheaper to rent the box monthly rather then go threw this process. I agree tho it would be smarter if someone linked up with a gaming console w/ a broadband connection and just offered T.V. that way you already have millions of devices available and also a device in every market.
texasguy37
Premium Member
join:2009-05-18
Grand Prairie, TX

texasguy37

Premium Member

Re: This Is Just Stupid

That depends on how long you plan to be a U-verse customer. $99 + $55 = $154/$7 = 22 month payback.

Thus, if you plan to be a customer for more than 22 month, using the xBox as an STB would be a cheaper option.
Lotheron
join:2009-04-03
Wesley Chapel, FL

Lotheron

Member

Re: This Is Just Stupid

At least with the uverse STB, if it goes bad, they replace it. If the Xbox goes bad out of warranty period, you have to replace it.

Charging this much for the privilege of using your own device is a bad business decision. I understand they need to include a remote/HPNA adapter for some, but $154 is crazy. I don't need either of those as I have a Logitech Harmony and my house is wired with Cat5e.
texasguy37
Premium Member
join:2009-05-18
Grand Prairie, TX

texasguy37

Premium Member

Re: This Is Just Stupid

You are probably correct. That has always been my argument for those who have wanted to purchase the STB to avoid the $7/month fee. If you own the box and it goes bad, you have to buy a new box unless it is still under warranty. When AT&T owns the equipment, if it goes bad it is replaced at no cost to you.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: This Is Just Stupid

nobody cares about that. they just care about owning the equipment only to bitch about it later when it goes out.
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Skippy25 to Lotheron

Member

to Lotheron
Right... if anyone's xBox goes out they are probably going to replace it anyway so your first argument means nothing.

I don't understand the truck roll, but I am yet to see one installed. It may sound all nice and easy to install and setup but there may be more to it than any of us know.

Being in the software / hardware / network world I know things aren't always as easy as one thinks they should be so I will hold my judgment until I see it and can make an informed decision. The rest of you naysayers should do the same.

MrStanFan
join:2010-09-19

MrStanFan to texasguy37

Member

to texasguy37
your forgetting 200 for the console .. and if u got the older xbox 360 god forbid it gets the ROD cause then ur out of luck. and if you get a new xbox you probably have to pay this fee all over again
texasguy37
Premium Member
join:2009-05-18
Grand Prairie, TX

texasguy37

Premium Member

Re: This Is Just Stupid

I'm assuming that no one is going to purchase an Xbox 360 simply to avoid the $7/month STB fee. That would probably make no sense even if there were no fees to setup the Xbox 360 as an STB.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4 to texasguy37

Member

to texasguy37
how many STBs are you counting? the first STB from U-Verse is free.
hottboiinnc4

hottboiinnc4 to MrStanFan

Member

to MrStanFan
as i said... the technology is there. just nobody wishes to fill the gap and create the program that would need to be done. plus getting it on the console could be challenge.

senti
@sbcglobal.net

senti

Anon

good riddence

i definitely enjoyed at&t uverse tv and internet while i had it. i still have the internet but paying so much for tv dint make sense. thank god.
texasguy37
Premium Member
join:2009-05-18
Grand Prairie, TX

texasguy37

Premium Member

Re: good riddence

Not sure what this has to do with using an Xbox 360 as an STB, but thanks for the comments.
CyrusDaVirus
join:2009-06-05
Houston, TX

CyrusDaVirus

Member

$154??

so the truck roll is $99 and I'm guessing they dont give you a copy of the soft. What happens when your 360 rrod? do you have to pay another truck roll everytime?

•••••••••

M0RB1US
@65.244.131.x

M0RB1US

Anon

ATT supports WirelessTV thru XBOX?

So does this mean I can get ATT U-Verse streaming to my 2 wireless XBOX 360s? .xX=M=Xx.

••••
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

1 recommendation

chgo_man99

Member

how come its so difficult so suck up one time fee of $99?

or $154? Its like you were buying digital box and not renting, its just you have existing hardware platform for it. Its better than extra $7 rental fee. People will always find an excuse to complain. For xbox fans that work and make money it will fit their budget (unless they work in retail like for a minimum wage or don't work at all).

Its no different that buying $60 new game, >$100 rock band set up, $50 yearly live gold membership or $100 accessories.

Why should be this any different?

••••••
brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Tampa, FL

brianiscool

Member

hmm

What happens if you move? Do you lose all of your games you bought? Do you
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: hmm

its for TV viewing not for games. but you'll lose access to the actual TV network of U-Verse if you're not within that area.
fuadar
Got Oracle
join:2002-11-21
Lake Villa, IL

fuadar

Member

Xbox +Att

Well Att techs have no clue about this. i called was transferred 3 times before being offered uverse +
i've got 2 xboxes and i would get rid of 2 STB's but why should i pay 99*2 +55 when my xbox and my stbs are already ethernet ( i.e no coax)

••••
OwlSaver
OwlSaver
Premium Member
join:2005-01-30
Berwyn, PA

OwlSaver

Premium Member

Why can't it just be a download?

If all it is is software and no hardware, why can't it just be a download from the Xbox Marketplace? Just like it checks the Xbox live connectivity, it could check the TV connectivity and install if all is good. Seems like a truck roll is so 1990's.

••••••
Jasonfn22
join:2009-11-20
Bethlehem, GA

Jasonfn22

Member

AT&T/Comcast

Man you would think it would be $55 for new customers,but I guess that might scare of potential buyers so they decide to screw who they already have under contract.UMMM to all AT&T personel after reading that their is no f____ing way I would have AT&T,thanks for the warning.
texasguy37
Premium Member
join:2009-05-18
Grand Prairie, TX

1 edit

texasguy37

Premium Member

Re: AT&T/Comcast

New customers who have the Xbox kit installed during the initial install do not pay the $55 truck roll charge because the tech is already onsite. They do have to pay $99 for the Xbox kit.

By the way, what does Comcast charge you to use your Xbox as an STB?

gball
Master Yoda
Premium Member
join:2000-11-28
South Bend, IN

gball

Premium Member

HMM

Well I am getting UVERSE installed tomorrow but I don't get my new xbox until Nov 7th and there is no way I'm waiting that long for TV/Internet so I guess I won't be able to get this because $150 is too much for me.

O well!

Mr Anon
@k12.il.us

Mr Anon

Anon

Hmm...

Any links to the $99 kit? for $99 you could build a cheaper Media Center extender to use for TV (basically besides the DVR that's what the boxes are) I don't care if it has a remote the 360 will accept any media center remote which is fairly cheap (okay it may only take Media Center 2 remotes)

as for the technician yeah this is just a screw you type deal. I see no reason why activation can be simple one click or much like Netflix activation

Seriously what is in the $100 kit?
Mr Anon

Mr Anon

Anon

Re: Hmm...

So yeah I saw the video and I'd like to say that the video is too big for the small window they put it in with no way to resize it.

It looks like this $100 "kit" is noting more than a standard 360 remote which the 360 can also take a standard Media Center remote as well. A CD and a flyer, I can't see what the other device is, some say its a HomePNA adapter which is a good guess seeing as that is an option and those things are pretty expensive however...

I don't need any of that, just the CD, I have a media center remote or I can pick up my own $20 360 remote if I were crazy. I have ran my own network since before DSL came to Chicago (back when you had to get it on a separate dry line and techs would steal your pair because it was dead all the time)

We need someone to get the Disc and lets install it without everything else, in the video the guy states that a tech put in the disc let it run for 15 minutes now we are ready.

Knowing some information about the live market place I can give you information that will make you say duh! Its all about money, there is nothing free on the xbox live market place, sure there are things free to you but it costs to have it hosted and to have it sent, even game patches cost the publisher to give out. Search for Valve's thoughts on live and the free level for Left for Dead that wasn't free on xbl. This is why its not an item there. Still there is no reason why ATT can't just mail you the disc at a lower fee and if you want or have you purchase the full kit just in case. In my situation all I'd need is the disc as I already use the 360 as a media center extender.

sigmon
@att.net

sigmon

Anon

why do we need any of this

All this technology will not make us any happier. The announcement alone has stirred up strife, anger and complaints.

You don't have to get it if you are not satisfied. Do not settle for less. All they want is your money, so don't give it to them!

Less technology = more happiness.

moldypickle
Premium Member
join:2009-01-04
Haughton, LA
ARRIS SB8200
Ubiquiti UDM-Pro
Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-nanoHD

moldypickle

Premium Member

lol

luckily the cable modem rental isn't as bad as this crap. some isp don't charge a rental so use their junk. where i'm at it's 10 bux a month so it makes sense to buy a modem and let it pay for itself in 6 months.

this just seems like a bad idea though. and the pay back is going to be ALOT longer than 22 months because to even have the service, you MUST use Live.

so during that 22 months, you need to add in the cost of 2 years worth of Live.

by the time this would make financial sense, everything you have would be outdated, lol.

but then again, if you want it and have the money, go get it!

Uv tech
@sbcglobal.net

Uv tech

Anon

Hmmm

The truck roll is being applied to all existing customers that want to add or make any changes to their setup because it costs money to send a tech, a truck and give him/her time to do this job especially in this case when the job won't generate any new monthly revenue for the company.

Requiring a tech for this type of work is due to the fact that a lot of people aren't that technically inclined, and so its probably to minimize the number of repair tickets generated by customers who fail a self install, and in turn complain about a trip charge associated with fixing it. However, the company is sending out self install kits for our internet and voip installs, so maybe one day they will have them for this soon. I would imagine if a customer was adamant enough over the phone, a trip charge could be waived if the cust insists on doing the install him/herself.

Mr Anon
@k12.il.us

Mr Anon

Anon

Re: Hmmm

I would insist very much. I'd also insist on not buying a kit for what I don't need.

This could be done with different levels and a very simple question: "Are you already an xbox live member with the xbox you want to use?" Done no need for a hpna adapter. Let them know that the uverse remote won't work on the 360 and sell them one if they don't.

I think you are going to find that most people that are interested in this offer is because they A) already have U-verse B) already use xbox live over U-Verse. It would seem to those people that all they need to do is install the app and maybe get a remote if they wanted however the "process" that is laid out as the only option requires $154 or $100 to new customers.

Just how man stand alone xbox does AT&T think they will find to justify forcing people to buy an adapter they don't need and an install that doesn't even require a keyboard.

Anon Name
@clearwire-wmx.net

Anon Name

Anon

for the women in the house

One less box and set of wires near the tv. And nobody needs to remember to do the mandatory weekly reboot of the current crappy WindowsCE applicance with 16,384K of memory. For me -- one less occasional Microsoft BSOD to worry about. I'd do it if it were free...

pt
@249.xx.2.available

pt

Anon

talked to uverse support

you do not have to pay for them to come set it up. they are able to mail you a disc and you can do it yourself. so it only costs you $100 total.

you can use xbox wireless with the g router, but probably won't be able to stream HD over a g connection.

Trial n Err
@mts.mb.ca

Trial n Err

Anon

Take it or Leave it

1) In the SP space there are always customers who don't like the STB rental option. They feel that it is a ripoff and denies them choice.
2) I have an X-Box and a live account for gaming, so having one device that does both is attractive as opposed to 2 devices tieing up space and Ethernet connectivity. To me I save $3 a month in STB rentals. That means a 3 year payback. Not all that attractive, but I intend to have an Xbox for a long time to come (or upgrade when the next MS consle comes out).
3) Microsoft charges the provider a license fee per connected device for IPTV. STB's are tracked in the MS Mediaroom system. If IPTV is offerred on an Xbox then the SP needs to set up infrastructure to track X-boxes with clients as well.
4) I can't say at this point why there is the truck roll, but I do know that SP's don't want to roll a truck and will go to length to avoid it. It's not a profitable venture.

Ultimately it comes down to choice and whether the consumer sees value in the offering. No one is being forced to take it, so I'm not sure why there is so much indiganation. It's true, AT&T is not a charitable organization, like every capitalist venture. I guess the only question is are they being reasonable. If you think not, then obviously you won't sign up. Honestly, I don't know if I will take it when it becomes available, but I will think about it.

Just my $.02