ACCESS and Metrological Team Up to Offer Cutting Edge Cloud-Based TV App-Stores

Joint ACCESS and Metrological solution provides TV operators and manufacturers with hardware and software agnostic cloud-based TV App-Store. This white-labeled joint solution is already live with a major cable operator.

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands & OBERHAUSEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACCESS CO., LTD., a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile, beyond-PC and digital TV markets, and Metrological Media Innovations, an innovative software company providing cloud based media solutions, today announced that the companies are working together to provide cloud-based TV app-store solutions.

“We’re working with ACCESS because its browser provides the advanced TV-centric development platform we need. I look forward to the collaboration with ACCESS to further drive the app revolution that has already changed the face of mobile and is about to do the same for TV.”

The integration of ACCESS’ NetFront™ Browser NX with Metrological’s TV App-Store platform provides a software and hardware agnostic joint solution that enables TV operators and CE device manufacturers to offer consumers a broad range of innovative interactive applications.

This joint solution provides an easily managed cloud-based environment populated with apps that run on the robust ACCESS browser on a connected TV or other device. It will be marketed by both ACCESS and Metrological and is already live with a major cable operator.

“The acceleration in TV-app take-up is an important development for the TV industry globally,” said Albert Dahan, Chief Technology Officer of Metrological. “We’re working with ACCESS because its browser provides the advanced TV-centric development platform we need. I look forward to the collaboration with ACCESS to further drive the app revolution that has already changed the face of mobile and is about to do the same for TV.”

ACCESS’ NetFront™ solutions have already been shipped in over 1 billion devices globally. ACCESS’ NetFront Browser NX is based on the WebKit open source browser engine, and is an advanced TV-centric HTML5 browser which enables Metrological’s App-Store to swiftly and seamlessly integrate linear TV with online content.

“The pre-integration of our browser with Metrological’s powerful cloud-based App-Store enables operators and CE manufacturers to launch an App-Store at Internet speed, i.e. in weeks rather than months,” said Dr. Neale Foster, VP of Global Sales IA, ACCESS. “Our industry-leading NetFront Browser NX supports latest HTML5 features and provides a highly stable platform as well as providing comprehensive support for DTV extensions such as HbbTV, BBC iPlayer and CE-HTML.”

“Consumers love to download new apps on to their smart phones and tablets and this partnership with Metrological now enables them to do the same on the TV. We are delighted to be working with Metrological to enable operators and device manufacturers to deliver the connected TV and multi-screen experiences that consumers want and increasingly expect,” concluded Foster.

NetFront Browser NX

NetFront Browser NX is a WebKit-based, platform-independent HTML5 software solution that supports advanced features such as HTML5 Canvas and CSS 3D Transoforms. It can be used as a next-generation TV UI engine to deliver greatly enriched user experiences including 3D graphics and animations. It features efficient memory usage, high stability, high portability and comprehensive support for DTV standards including HbbTV, BBC iPlayer and CE-HTML. NetFront Browser NX enables operators, OEMs and middleware companies to launch TV-centric services quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively. The solution provides device manufacturers, content companies, operators and consumers with the ‘connected confidence’ to deploy, manage and enjoy powerful multiscreen media sharing solutions.

Metrological App-Store

The App-Store is aimed at TV operators and manufacturers that are looking for a commercially ready, multiscreen, white-label App-Store that provides consumers with an exciting connected TV experience. It runs on any device with a browser, enabling operators to offer a consistent user experience across devices.

The TV App-Store is cloud based, and fully hardware and software agnostic. It can run on legacy set-top boxes and any connected device with a browser and integrates linear TV and online content through an intuitive interface, offers contextual apps running within the TV experience enabling automated recommendations. The integrated app platform enables CE device manufacturers to generate multiple revenue streams from content through multiple supporting screens. Complete with an easy-to-use SDK, it provides operators with the simplest, market-proven route to a cloud-based TV App-Store that protects the operators brand whatever the device.

The combined ACCESS and Metrological solution is primarily designed to enable operators and manufacturers to monetize their connection with the end-consumer.

Note to editors: If you would like to see the joint ACCESS and Metrological solution in action at CES 2013, please contact Ursula Herrick of Herrick Media ([e-mail], 408-202-0865) or Sally Douglas of Platform PR ([e-mail], [phone]).

About ACCESS

ACCESS CO., LTD. is a global provider of advanced software solutions and services that enable operators, device manufacturers, content owners and consumers to make the most of today’s multi-screen, connected world. It provides software for mobiles, smartphones and tablets, connected TVs and set-top boxes in the connected home, automotive, digital publishing and networking markets. ACCESS solutions have shipped in over one billion devices around the world. Its product portfolio includes the NetFront™ Software Series and the ZebOS^® network platform, providing customers faster time-to-market, flexibility and customizability; the ACCESS^TM Digital Publishing Ecosystem for cloud-based, cross-platform digital publishing and the NetAd mobile advertising platform. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Mothers’ Index, 4813) and operates subsidiaries and affiliates in Asia, Europe and the United States.
www.access-company.com.

About Metrological

Metrological, headquartered in Rotterdam and founded in 2005, has developed a unique and proven media solution for the connected TV experience. Metrological offers a TV App-store to TV operators and –manufacturers that is cloud based, hardware and software agnostic and runs on any device with a browser. Metrological’s technology seamlessly integrates linear TV, VOD and OTT content through an intuitive user interface. The Metrological app store offers contextual apps, running within the TV experience. Its launch customer is Liberty Global, which announced in 2011 that it was to adopt Metrological’s app store platform for the global roll out of its next generation TV platform - Horizon.

© 2013 ACCESS CO., LTD. All rights reserved.

ACCESS, the ACCESS logo, and NetFront are registered trademarks or trademarks of ACCESS CO., LTD. in the United States, Japan and/or other countries. ZebOS is either a registered trademark or trademark of IP Infusion Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks, logos and trade names mentioned in the document are the property of their respective owners.