Comcast plans Drexel trial for Internet TV
Wireless to follow?
"Comcast will soon expand trials of a multiscreen, IP video service tailored for university students at Drexel" University in West Philly, reports Multichannel News here. A sign-up page to introduce more Drexel kids to the Comcast habit has been set up here but is not yet active. Drexel would be the second school to test the system: Emerson College students in Boston can sign up here.
"The Xfinity On Campus trial offers access to a lineup of live TV channels and [Video-on-Demand] over the campus network," the News says. "The service, delivered over managed, adaptive bit rate IP video streams, currently supports laptop and PC browsers" -- and promises to support smartphones and tablets, sometime, in the future. "Xfinity On Campus allows students to register three devices, but they can stream video to one device at a time," after authenticating with their user names and passwords.
Adds the News: "In November at an event on advanced advertising put on by Comcast Spotlight, MSO executive vice president of consumer services Marcien Jenckes said the new college-focused service runs on Comcast's X1 platform, and that the service will eventually allow students to sign up for premium services such as HBO with a credit card. Comcast also intends to offer Streampix, its premium-level multiscreen VOD service."
No set-top box, no cable-guy visit. Paid a month in advance. Credit cards accepted.