IPTV on Xbox 360 is a Microsoft initiative designed to expand the gaming and entertainment universe. At the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates, on his kick-off keynote speech, revealed that Xbox 360 has surpassed by half a million the company's projections for consoles sales for the holiday season. Gates revealed that Xbox 360 managed to sale in excess of 10.4 million units by December 31, 2006.

"As the magic of software makes it easier for people to be creators, publishers and consumers of digital content, it is expanding the way we think about community and entertainment," Gates stated. "From your living room to your car, we're delivering a wave of new software products and services that make it easier for you to manage your day-to-day lives, express your ideas and share your interests."

It fell onto Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division President Robbie Bach to showcase the new service, a concert between Xbox 360 and Microsoft TV IPTV Edition. Via the IPTV on Xbox 360 service, the Redmond Company will provide users digital video recording capabilities, with gaming, movie viewing, and voice and video communications.

According to Microsoft, the IPTV on Xbox 360 service is planned to be available by the 2007 holiday season. The Redmond Company informed that the service will be accessible via providers that are already involved with TV services deployment through the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform.

"Our goal is to make entertainment more personal, more interactive and more social," Bach said. "IPTV on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live are powerful examples of ways we are bringing together the worlds of gaming, TV viewing and community to make it easy for people to access and discover their favorite content and share their personal experiences with the communities they are part of."