At the end of this month, Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) plans to launch "Xfinity Stream," a multiscreen app available to all Xfinity TV customers at no additional cost on devices in and out of the home. The app is intended to allow users to watch their entire TV lineup on phones, tablets and laptops in the home; and when they're on-the-go, to tune-in to more than 200 live channels, access and program their DVR and watch 40,000 on demand titles.
"We're focused on creating the best entertainment experiences across platforms and continuing to give Xfinity TV customers more choice in how, when and where they access their content," said Matt Strauss, executive vice president and general manager, Video and Entertainment Services, at Comcast. "With the Xfinity Stream app, we are giving customers access to the best content in and out of the home with a growing list of advanced features and capabilities that make the mobile experience nearly identical to the cable experience they enjoy at home."
The Xfinity Stream app, the successor to the Xfinity TV app, includes the ability to switch to a Spanish guide, favorite channel filtering, music channels and Common Sense Media reviews and ratings, offering an X1-like experience on phones, tablets and laptops in and out of the home.
Customers will be able to download the app for iOS and Android devices on Feb. 28. Customers who have already installed the latest version of the Xfinity TV app on their devices will see it transition to the Stream app through an app update on Feb. 28.
Fiber Upgrade in Boston
In other Comcast news, Comcast Business is investing $25 million to expand its fiber-based network in Boston and Cambridge, MA, reaching more than 3,000 businesses directly and making the network more accessible to tens of thousands more. Designed to deliver up to 100 Gbps of network capacity, the fiber-optic Ethernet network expansion is intended to support advanced business services and give Comcast the ability to bring new customers, ranging from small and medium-sized organizations to large enterprises, online more quickly.
The expansion will deploy more than 40 miles of new fiber-optic cable and encompass the Back Bay, Financial District and parts of Cambridge. Work has already begun over the past few months to provide Ethernet, Internet and voice solutions to businesses and organizations throughout the city, and additional network expansions are scheduled to be completed over the next two years.
"This is one of Comcast Business' most significant and innovative infrastructure buildouts to date, and we're proud to be making this investment in Boston and Cambridge," said Steve Walsh, regional vice president for Comcast Business. "As demand for our high-performance Ethernet offerings continues to soar, Comcast Business recognizes the need to respond quickly to new businesses to provide scalable solutions that can meet demand as they grow."