Comcast announced Monday that it has launched its next-gen video platform, X1, in three more markets: Illinois, northwest Indiana, and Southwest Michigan.
Comcast has already introduced X1, a service that features a cloud-based user interface and third party applications such as Pandora and Facebook, in about a dozen markets. Others include: Boston; Independence, Mo.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta and Augusta, Ga.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Philadelphia; New Jersey; Colorado; and systems serving a handful of California cities, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Fresno, Stockton, and Santa Barbara.
Comcast expects to launch X1 to half its service areas by the end of June, and across its footprint by the end of 2013. It’s primarily targeting X1 to new triple-play customers.
The MSO is initially delivering the X1 service on the Pace-made XG1 HD-DVR . Comcast is expected to offer the service on an Arris-made gateway, as well, starting in the third quarter.
The current setup of the X1 allows customers to record four shows and watch a fifth at the same time. Comcast is also starting to offer multi-room DVR capabilities via the X1 by teaming the XG1 gateway with non-DVR RNG150N boxes using Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) home networking technology. In late May, Comcast also added voice command features to is X1 Remote app for iPhones and iPod Touch devices.
“X1 redefines the Xfinity entertainment experience, making it easier to use, smarter, richer, faster, and more personalized than ever before,” said Comcast regional SVP John Crowley, in a statement. “And with X1, Comcast is essentially doubling the number of shows customers can record simultaneously yet charging the same amount we do for existing multi-room DVR service in the market.”
Comcast is expected to announce a refreshed, more personalized version of its X1 platform Wednesday at The Cable Show in Washington, D.C.
