IPTV is an amorphous thing — and that's the good news.

Initially defined as Internet protocol TV, or video services delivered via data networks, IPTV is increasingly more accurately described as intelligent personalized TV. Instead of just delivering more channel options to already overwhelmed consumers, IPTV has the capability to let consumers customize the way they select, view and interact with video programming, based on the device they are viewing, the specific tastes of an individual viewer and other details, such as time of day, presence information and pre-set policies.

As telecom service providers deploy IPTV, it will be integrated with their existing voice and data services onto a single IP-based platform that enables powerful integration of services.

For example, suppose the network can determine that you are watching TV and instead of delivering a text message from a son or daughter to the cell phone in your pocket or purse, deliver it to the TV set? Suppose the photo you take from a trip or even the video you shoot of a family event can be instantly sent for display on a PC or TV set, depending upon its target audience? Or maybe the video you want to view from your TiVO-like service can be delivered to your mobile phone in an appropriate format?

IPTV holds the real possibility of delivering an integrated service that builds on a multitude of data networking capabilities.

But as you'll read in these pages, there is a clear dichotomy between what IPTV can do and what IPTV is doing. To date, these advanced capabilities are primarily seen on trade show floors and in PowerPoint presentations.

As it is deployed today, IPTV is still primarily a cable TV replacement, with a few bells and whistles. Getting IPTV from where it is today to where it wants to go is a function not only of IPTV technology but also of the broader evolution of the network and its various pieces, including wireless/wireline convergence, IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) architecture and back-office integration.

In this issue, we explore this transition, including how IPTV fits into the broader transition to IMS, how it relates to mobile video, what operations support system vendors are doing to facilitate IPTV and potentially dramatic changes to how users access their TV sets. And just to “keep it real,” as the kids would say, we take you inside the services of IPTV pioneers.