The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series, in which senior technology analyst Eric Bleeker and Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Phillips discuss topics across the investing world.
Microsoft has been gaining traction in its attempts to make the Xbox 360 a device not just used for gaming -- but next-generation home entertainment. It'd be hard not to classify Microsoft as Apple's greatest direct competitor should it enter the television market. One of strongest signs of Microsoft's broadening ambition is that its struck deals with both Verizon and AT&T to allow the Xbox 360 to incorporate set-top box features that integrate it with pay TV offerings. However, AT&T has now put its kit that allows users to convert Xboxes to set-top boxes on an indefinite hiatus. This move might be small on its own but shows the difficulty a product like Apple TV will have dealing with controlling telecoms, especially if Apple wants the same level of interface control it's achieved on the iPhone. To see Eric's full analysis on the situation, watch the video below.
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