Never content to rest upon its laurels, the world of technology is striving fervently to redefine the way you interact with the world around you. It is no surprise that we find Microsoft, one of the largest levers of technological change in the world, making progressive alliances with visionary expectations of the future.

From Update 4: Verizon to Opt for Microsoft TV Tech

Verizon Communications Inc. plans to use Microsoft Corp. technology for its rollout of television service over a new fiber-optic network, becoming the third major telephone company to help fulfill Microsoft's long-stymied bid to barge into the TV business.

The software maker's platform initially will be used to provide an interactive program guide, high-definition television, digital video recording and video-on-demand for Verizon's FiOS TV service, which is due to launch in undisclosed markets around mid-year

The idea that Three of the largest phone companies in the US are considering Microsoft technology to deliver broadband television content to millions of subscribers is... well... huge.

It puts some other things into perspective as well, like some of the features that we have been hearing about in xBOX NEXT:

From the Xbox Next entry at Wikipedia

In November 2004, The Inquirer reported that three separate versions of the Xbox Next may be released: a standard Xbox Next, the Xbox Next HD with a built-in hard drive and additional multimeda functionality, and the Xbox Next PC which would incorporate an entry-level PC, a CD burner, a wireless keyboard and mouse, and a special multimedia edition of Windows XP.

The TiVo changed the way we watched TV.

What was once a mobile phone is now an indispensable tool that is slowly replacing the bulky laptops of yesteryear.

The Intnernet, once a place to go to seek out information, is now reaching back into our lives and keeping the mainstream media in check.

If this last year was any indication of the pace of tomorrow, it will be an interesting year of change to be sure.

Posted by Michael at January 28, 2005 09:09 PM