Reliance Communications (RCom) is close to rolling out Internet protocol television (IPTV) services in the country in association with Microsoft. The companies have been working on the project since 2003. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, and RCom Chairman Anil Ambani are expected to make a joint announcement within a day or two, according to sources close to the development. RCom is also expected to sign a licensing agreement with Microsoft for managed services, which is the practice of transferring day-to-day management responsibility to a service provider. Microsoft has recently emerged as a serious player in the area of managed services with Windows Live and Office Live software as service platforms.
Ambani had reiterated in the latest analysts' meeting that the company would roll out its IPTV initiative by year-end. India is expected to have one million IPTV subscribers by 2011. IPTV provides for two-way interactive communication. It allows consumers to watch TV while using the telephone line and broadband Internet connection.
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