Brightcove is introducing a free version of App Cloud, with a basic feature set that lets developers publish apps for Apple iOS and Google Android devices, and is extending the hosted service to enable "dual-screen" apps for Apple TV set-tops.
App Cloud, launched a year ago, includes an open-source software development kit (SDK) that uses HTML5 and JavaScript, testing and debugging tools, compilation and real-time analytics for tracking app installations and usage.
Brightcove originally was formed in 2004 as an online-video publishing provider. With the free, unlimited-usage App Cloud Core offering, the company is aiming to broaden its footprint for device-agnostic app publishing.
"We believe we're still in the early stages of the app world," Brightcove CEO Jeremy Allaire said. "Every organization wants to create apps for mobile devices and TVs."
Media companies that have used the Brightcove App Cloud service include A+E Networks, AMC Networks and NBCUniversal.
With the App Cloud Dual-Screen Solution for Apple TV option, media publishers can deploy content apps for the iPhone and iPad that simultaneously control full-screen video streaming on HDTV while displaying synchronized content on Apple iOS devices. The dual-screen solution uses Apple's AirPlay technology, which allows users to wirelessly stream video from iOS devices to HDTV via Apple TV.
"The TV is another screen for your apps," Allaire said. "These are applications that interact with what's in your hand and what's on TV."
The Dual-Screen App Solution will be included in the new App Cloud SDK and available to the open source community. Allaire said Brightcove plans to extend support to other Internet-connected TV platforms, as well.
Brightcove is positioning the free App Cloud Core service as providing a complete, end-to-end solution for building and managing apps. In addition to unlimited app publishing to iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, it offers testing and debugging tools and real-time analytics to measure installs, sessions, usage time and average session length across apps.
For more advanced app publishers, the company is debuting App Cloud Pro, priced at $99 per month for up to 10,000 user sessions, that adds such features as unlimited push messaging, image transcoding, content optimization and the ability to let business users update apps.
The App Cloud Enterprise tier carries custom pricing and is aimed at high-volume app publishers. The service provides a multi-account environments and 24/7 support, and starts at 100,000 user sessions per month.
The Cambridge, Mass.-based company made the announcements Tuesday at the Brightcove Play 2012 customer conference in Boston.
Brightcove went public in February, raising net proceeds of $54.6 million. For the first three months of 2012, the company posted revenue of $19.9 million (up 53% year over year) and a net loss of $4.3 million (versus a net loss of $5.8 million a year prior).
