* AT&T U-verse lineup gains 3 HBO HD channels
By Traci Patterson

AT&T’s U-verse TV lineup now offers customers more high-definition (HD) content with the addition of three HBO HD channels – HBO2 HD, HBO Comedy HD and HBO Family HD.

U-verse TV customers who subscribe to the HD service option now have access to a lineup of more than 40 HD channels. HD service is available for $10 per month with any U-verse TV programming package. All U-verse TV packages include HD-ready equipment, and most include an HD-capable DVR, the company said.

Additionally, Sony Pictures Television announced that it will launch a PIX channel on AT&T’s Mobile TV service, which is set to launch in May (story here).

PIX will give AT&T Mobile TV subscribers access to movies from Columbia Pictures, Tri-Star, ScreenGems and Sony Pictures Classics.

* Cisco gear serves up Xanadoo’s WiMAX service
By Mike Robuck

Cisco has announced that Xanadoo Co. is using its Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) infrastructure to launch one of the first commercial North American mobile WiMAX broadband wireless networks.

Xanadoo selected WiMAX in order to provide mobile broadband wireless access to markets in the U.S. with populations of 100,000 to one million. Xanadoo's wireless networks and portable modems are enabled by a Cisco Broadband Wireless product and are based on the Cisco IP NGN architecture.

With more than 14,000 wireless broadband customers across markets in Texas, Oklahoma and Illinois, Xanadoo – one of the largest "fourth-generation" (4G) wireless operators – is using the 2.5 GHz spectrum to provide consumer and small- to medium-size business (SMB) offerings in wireless high-speed Internet and related broadband services.

* Microsoft not planning on upping Yahoo bid
By Traci Patterson

Microsoft Corp. sees no reason to up its bid for Yahoo Inc., according to Reuters.

Executives from the two companies have met on one occasion since Microsoft’s $44.6-billion, $31-a-share offer to take over Yahoo on Jan. 31 (story here) ; they met to discuss a potential merger.

In February, Yahoo rejected Microsoft's offer – which now sits at about $42 billion – saying that the bid "substantially undervalues" the company (story here).

* Internet ad spending rose 19 percent in 2007
By Traci Patterson

U.S. advertising spending in 2007 rose 0.6 percent compared with 2006, The Nielsen Co. reported, with Internet advertising dollars showing the largest increase (19 percent) of any media category.

National cable TV advertising dollars rose by about 2 percent.

U.S. advertising growth was substantially lower than other regions of the globe, with Asia-Pacific reporting a 12 percent increase and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) up nearly 5 percent.

* Camiant intros cost control app for wireless ops
By Traci Patterson

Camiant Inc. has introduced a new cost control application, which is designed to aid wireless operators with the management of radio frequency (RF) and backhaul costs that are associated with deploying and maintaining mobile broadband networks.

The application is available with the company’s policy server, the Multimedia Policy Engine (MPE), which helps service providers maximize profitability and subscriber quality of experience (QoE), the company said.

“Cost control is a primary concern for mobile broadband operators due to higher incremental costs,” said David Vorhaus, analyst at Yankee Group. “Moreover, operators are beginning to see the migration of high-bandwidth, latency-sensitive content to a mobile environment, and consumers are demanding this content be delivered with increasingly greater speed and quality of experience. As these factors drive mobile broadband network usage and complexity, a centralized policy control solution is a critical step in helping wireless operators mitigate cost, while future-proofing their networks to handle the issues and concerns around capacity and quality of service that will drive profitability."

More Broadband Direct:

• Cox deploying Concurrent’s servers across VOD footprint 

• Charter’s Allen among Vanguard inductees 

• AAI wants FTC to investigate Rembrandt patent case 

• Sprint to debut iPhone-like device in June 

• Gemstar-TV Guide bows site for mobile searches 

• Broadband Briefs for 4/01/08