By definition ecosystems are diverse, but three big players are forming a global relationship to bring advanced systems to carriers offering triple-play services. Alcatel and Microsoft, already partners in the roll out of IPTV, have established a global relationship with HP focused on the delivery of server solutions.

This announcement, combined with the existing OEM agreement between HP and Alcatel, puts HP on par with Alcatel and Microsoft in their IPTV relationship. HP will optimize its server solutions to include support for the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition within Alcatel's overall Triple Play Service Delivery Architecture. HP will validate and recommend the appropriate HP ProLiant and HP BladeSystem servers to optimize the performance and scalability of Microsoft TV IPTV Edition Applications.

The companies also will establish joint global go-to-market efforts that will include sales and marketing activities. Alcatel will include specific bundled server solutions built with HP ProLiant and pre-integrated HP OpenView IT element management software in its end-to-end triple-play offering.

The companies expect the partnerships will speed the time to market for IPTV services and improve system performance and architecture scalability for telecommunications service providers. HP's server solutions will help provide a deeper level of integration throughout the partners' solutions.

Alcatel and Microsoft joined forces back in February 2005 with a global collaboration agreement designed to speed the availability of IP-based video over broadband networks. The two said they would jointly approach telecom service with Alcatel's access and aggregation equipment and Microsoft's middleware and develop specific applications based on customer needs.

A month earlier, Verizon announced it would use the Microsoft TV platform for the video portion of its FiOS TV service.