Is it a media server? A traditional set-top box? A portal to get Internet and PC-stored media easily to your TV, a la ZeeVee? 2Wire’s MediaPoint solution might be all of the above.

2Wire announced the product today as “a simple means of browsing, downloading, and viewing DVD-quality video and movies, listening to streaming music, viewing and sharing photos, and accessing personal networked media content—all on the television, using any broadband connection.” And it includes a nifty little box that you can add to your equipment rack, with all of the connections to bring A/V bliss.

For now, though, it doesn’t appear to be a product that consumers can buy, but will be one offered by content providers to go with subscriptions—2Wire already lists the likes of AT&T, Verizon, Qwest and others among its partners, as it works essentially as the OEM for the technology catering to providers’ plans, notes CNET.

The 2Wire solution includes the MediaPoint digital media player, 2Wire Media Software, and the 2Wire Service Management System (SMS). The player itself has support for and connections including:

• SD and HD content
• SD and HD TV interfaces
• wired and wireless network connectivity
• internal storage
• USB expansion
• HDMI, component, composite and optical audio connections

So we’ll wait and see what incarnation—and price—we’ll be getting our MediaPoint boxes. In the meantime, our hard drives will continue to fill up, and we’ll start bookmarking more web video sites to be ready.

Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!