April 27, 2011
TwinTV™ second-screen application enables programming, guides, apps, and more on companion devices
Zappware, a leading developer of off-the-shelf and custom designed interactive digital television (iDTV) solutions, today announced it will introduce its newly developed, second-screen application, TwinTV™, at the 2011 ANGA Cable Show, being held May 3-5 in Cologne, Germany. Zappware will be demonstrating this advanced capability, along with other iDTV solutions, in booth N21.
The simple to deploy TwinTV application allows cable and telco operators to provide powerful connectivity for subscribers to browse, watch and communicate about content on smartphones, tablets, and PCs ─ enabling entertaining and convenient interactivity for viewers. Using a sleek, intuitive interface that includes a TwinTV-specific home page, viewers can access program guides, VOD catalogues, TV apps and other information on a second screen without interrupting the content on the TV screen or disturbing others. Users can also watch live programming or video-on-demand content on any screen, set a personal video recorder, or create reminders for favorite shows from anywhere.
TwinTV is powered by Zappware's patent-pending iView™ technology and is available as a native application on Android and iOS devices and as a web service on Windows, Mac or Linux PCs. The iView application delivery platform extends huge benefits to the operator deploying TwinTV such as easy customization of look and feel, total control over product configuration and content elements, a CRM interface that enables the product to be customized down to the individual subscriber level, audience measurement, and the integration of value-added apps.
"The robust TwinTV offers a level of interaction that enhances TV for viewers, cleverly combining the personal experience of watching a program with social interactions," said Zappware's CEO and president, Patrick Vos. "Today's viewer is almost constantly interacting with some connected device. Because a viewer can now use other devices to search the program guide for other shows to watch or choose a social networking tool to communicate with friends, TwinTV enables personal interaction with the TV without interrupting the social experience of watching TV with others."
TwinTV is fully integrated with Zappware's set-top-box applications Matrix™ and Flux™, which are also driven by iView technology, providing a range of additional benefits when it's installed along with one of these platforms. For example, video-on-demand or live programming can be dynamically switched from the TV screen to the second screen - and back again. Also, TwinTV enhances the utility of the TV apps that are available in Matrix and Flux. Not only is the full set of apps (such as news, weather, social networks, Web video sites, etc.) available on second screens, but the built-in AppZapp capability allows users to move smoothly from one device to another - and even switch back and forth. Informational and social interaction apps are easily moved from device to device, providing an unmatched level of convenience and connectivity.
