Ericsson acquires Mediaroom as Microsoft shifts focus to Xbox TV

In an effort to pull its focus to television on Xbox, Microsoft has reached an agreement with Ericsson to acquire Mediaroom, "the number one IPTV platform deployed by TV operators around the world." It's a move that will allow Microsoft to focus entirely on its consumer TV strategy with Xbox.

"With the sale of Mediaroom, Microsoft is dedicating all TV resources to Xbox in a continued mission to make it the premium entertainment service that delivers all the games and entertainment consumers want – whether on a console, phone, PC or tablet," Microsoft VP Yusuf Mehdi wrote. "And with 76 million Xbox 360 consoles around the world with 46 million Xbox LIVE members, it is a mission that gets us out of bed in the morning."

Mehdi went on to say that Microsoft will partner with a range of content creators, studios, labels, networks, and distributors to deliver the "next wave of innovation in games and consumer entertainment." It's a future where TV becomes "more simple, tailored and intelligent," Mehdi concluded.

Mediaroom is the tech behind AT&T's U-Verse, Telefonica, and Swssiscom. It powers 22 million set top boxes worldwide.