Forget the Apple TV, Microsoft's Xbox TV Is Coming
The living room is the next battleground. This we know. Google, Apple , and Microsoft will be the primary hardware contenders vying for your eyeballs. Of these three, Microsoft has always been the living room incumbent thanks to its popular Xbox 360 gaming console.
Microsoft has now sold a cumulative lifetime total of 70 million Xbox 360 units, including 1.7 million last quarter. While Microsoft has continued to build new content services directly into the Xbox 360 and expand its capabilities, the primary purpose remains gaming -- and the average consumer is not going to buy a gaming console solely for its additional content offerings.
That's why a recent report from The Verge that Microsoft is planning on launching an "Xbox TV" set-top box next year makes perfect sense. A new entry-level 4 GB Xbox 360 costs $200, but stripping away some of that gaming power and targeting a lower price point is a clear opportunity. The device is rumored to still incorporate casual gaming titles, while beefier games would still need to run on the full-fledged console.
The most obvious response would be to target the $99 price point and sit next to the current Apple TV STB. That business is growing but still remains a relative "hobby" for Apple, as its unit volumes are relatively low. Apple sold over 5 million Apple TV units last fiscal year, nearly double the 2.8 million sold the prior year. In comparison, Microsoft sold 13 million Xbox 360 units in fiscal 2012.
Google has tried numerous strategies in the living room. The Logitech experiment with Google TV proved to be a spectacular failure. CEO Guerrino De Luca called the Revue STB a "mistake of implementation of a gigantic nature" that cost the accessory maker $100 million in operating profits. Consumers can currently get an integrated Google TV or another STB like the $100 one from Vizio. The Nexus Q had streaming ambitions, but its $299 price tag (more than a full-fledged gaming console) and lack of features doomed it from the get-go.
Pursuing a lightweight STB strategy that's built around streaming and casual gaming would reinforce Microsoft's defense of the living room as Apple and Google continue to invade.
It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched the company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In this brand-new premium report on Microsoft, our analyst explains that while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are many. He's also providing regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.
The article Forget the Apple TV, Microsoft's Xbox TV Is Coming originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, Logitech International, and Microsoft. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Apple, Google, Logitech International, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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