Recognizing that its pay TV constituents need a quick, effective way to provide customers with apps to popular over-the-top services, RDK Management has partnered with Metrological to create a two-pronged solution for integrating apps into RDK set-tops.
The announcement was made at the IBC Show in Amsterdam.
The first approach involves the new RDK App Framework, which allows service providers to create HTML5 and native applications on set-top boxes using the RDK Firebolt App SDK. The solution also provides on-boarding and life cycle management tools, and enables app portability across various set-top box models.
Driven by the RDK open source community, with key contributions from Metrological, RDK App Framework provides a complete development, build and test environment for web and native apps across RDK-based set-top boxes. Service providers now have a common technical framework to support native premium video apps, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video, along with a wide-variety of niche or third-party HTML5 apps. Technical details are available at: https://wiki.rdkcentral.com/display/RDK/Firebolt.
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For service providers seeking a more turnkey solution, Metrological’s App Store was named as the first RDK pre-integrated app store. Metrological’s App Store includes access to a library of of more than 300 apps. In addition, the App Store can be used to launch premium video apps such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video; local and regionalized apps; and all of the back-office tools needed to launch and manage the lifecycle of an app store. Content providers are able to reach over 40 million households across operator networks by uploading a single app onto the Metrological App Library.
“Our community also includes many operators who simply want their own white-labeled app store that works across RDK set-top boxes,” said Steve Heeb, president and general manager of RDK Management, in a statement. “To support them, we’re pleased to name Metrological as the first RDK pre-integrated app store. It’s a clear testament to Metrological’s capabilities and ongoing contributions to the RDK community.”
RDK Management is an open source consortium, led by Comcast and Liberty Global, that manages the Reference Design Kit (RDK), an open source software platform for the connected home that standardizes core functions used in broadband devices, set-top boxes, and IoT solutions. It enables operators to manage their devices; control their business models; and customize their apps, UIs and data analytics to improve the customer experience and drive business results. The RDK community is comprised of more than 350 companies including: CPE manufacturers, SoC vendors, software developers, system integrators, and service providers.
RDK Management is moving fast to provide flexibility to pay TV operators, who have turned to solutions including Android TV to provide OTT apps to consumers.
Metrological enables operators to integrate premium OTT services and niche content into a single TV viewer experience. The Metrological Application Platform delivers a product suite for on-boarding and managing the lifecycle of web and native apps across set-top boxes and devices. Content providers are able to reach over 40 million households across operator networks by uploading a single app onto the Metrological App Library. Metrological works with cable and telecommunications companies such as KPN, Liberty Global, NOS, beIN, Tele Columbus, and Ooredoo. Founded in 2005, Metrological is based in The Netherlands with offices in the U.S. and Europe.
