It’s been a long wait but Foxtel has finally confirmed a launch date for its much hyped, highly anticipated new set-top box the IQ3.
The device, which Foxtel first formally announced in March of 2013 and had been expected to launch this year, will now be made available to customers in February 2015.
The February launch date was confirmed in emails that the Pay-TV provider commenced sending to customers yesterday.
Speaking at last months Sydney Upfronts event, Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein told the audience “we are about to launch the iQ3, a beautiful new box with amazing functionality. We will begin rolling it out to customers in the next few months.”
A senior Foxtel Spokesperson last month told this website,
“iQ3 is in its final user trial phase. We haven’t set a release date for customers yet, but there are no significant technical issues and we will launch it once we have completed all necessary tests and we’re confident that it is functioning to the standard our customers expect.”
The Foxtel iQ3 is being constructed by Pace and will have ten times the processing power and eight times more memory than the current box.
Key features will include an advanced TV Guide that combines live programming with Internet catch-up streaming services. Internet delivered video will be unmetered for Telstra BigPond Home Broadband customers as well as for Foxtel Broadband customers when that service launches next year.
Leaked documents have revealed customers will be required to pay a $150 upgrade fee to get the new device. Once connected pricing for the device will be the same as the current IQHD service.
The Box will have a one-terabyte hard drive, and includes nine satellite or cable TV tuners built in, allowing customers to watch one show while they record up to four others.
The Foxtel iQ3 will be rolled out nationally; there are two versions of the box, Cable and Satellite. The Satellite version is designed to replace the Austar MyStar box and will include two terrestrial FTA tuners to provide access to local TV services.
