Even though Microsoft may not count Tasmania as part of Australia, our southern brothers have one big technological advantage over the rest of us – the government is starting the rollout of the NBN down there. And now that little advantage has a fringe benefit, with Hybrid TV announcing that they will be offering participants in the NBN trial a freed TiVo for a year in order to truly test out the network.
Anyone who happens to have an existing fibre-connected homes on the TasCOLT network currently serviced by TasTel Community Telco is eligible to take part in the Hybrid SmartStreet Project. By taking part, they’ll get a free TiVo device for a year, and will be able to trial not only the upcoming Caspa Video on Demand entertainment features, but also experience the Caspa service platform, with specialised portals to government and community services like education, health and emergency.
The project is aimed at getting a better understanding of how people will actually use the NBN when it eventually rolls out across the country. But really, it’s a potential free TiVo – who can argue with that?