The growth in smartphones and tablets are fuelling demand for remote access to managed services in the home, according to Motorola’s Andy Hooper speaking at the TEN Digital Home event last month.
Why? As service providers look for ways to add value and differentiate, a number of them are laying the foundations for home monitoring and control services – but need a device such as a smartphone or a tablet to act as the consumer’s point of control.
Although the jury’s still out in terms of which will be the best form factor, the number of smartphone owners is steadily increasing. Huge numbers of consumers now own a smartphone, whilst tablets are gaining in popularity. Although larger than the smartphone form factor, tablets offer a larger, easier to use screen while still having the advantages of being compact, lightweight, and portable.
Pay TV service providers have been quick to take advantage of their popularity and their form factor, and are now using tablet devices for companion services such as social TV and enhanced EPGs which enhance the TV experience. Some are offering tablets as an incentive to join their service or lock the subscriber in for longer. Using a tablet as an incentive also increases the service provider’s chances of increasing subscriptions to other services they might offer, such as VOD. It’s a win-win situation.
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