TiVo
Back when Motley Fool Stock Advisor pick TiVo first announced TiVoToGo, it was clear that it would run its service on Microsoft-based machines. (Still wondering, when will my TiVo be able "to go" with my Apple
When we first discussed TiVoToGo, it was clear that this was another TiVo attempt to build a moat around itself and differentiate itself from its many generic competitors. With the popularity of downloadable content, particularly music (see: iPods), many have surmised that video -- particularly video over smartphones -- is the next frontier. Some have even wondered whether Apple was going to try to leverage video for iTunes.
On the other hand, I don't see much proof so far that people are all that enamored of video content on portable devices, which are usually most useful when you're doing something else. Therefore, there may very well be a good argument that video transmission over media centers and smartphones will never quite take off like the musical counterpart has. On the other hand, The Wall Street Journal reported today that demand for TiVoToGo has far exceeded TiVo's expectations, with 280,000 customers having downloaded the software as of the middle of last month.
Back to today's fanfare, which includes a TiVo promotion that involves giveaways of TiVo boxes and Microsoft Portable Media Centers, and some other promotional events from TiVo, Microsoft, and Intel
As investors, we are all very interested not only in what has happened, and what is happening now, but also in what will happen. I'm not discounting the idea that TiVoToGo might help TiVo to go more places . however, whether the stock should have benefited today, given continued challenges and a lack of clarity for the portable video market, is a whole different story.
To find out more about Motley Fool Stock Advisor , which combines the expertise of David and Tom Gardner, click here . Or, if you'd like to talk TiVo, fast-forward to our TiVo discussion board.
Alyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned, although she is a happy TiVo customer.