IBM's cloud to power Philips smart TV

BANGALORE, INDIA: IBM unveiled a new cloud platform for consumer electronics firms and announced it will power the Philips Smart TV platform for Internet services.

According to the deal, announced at the IFA consumer electronics event in Berlin, IBM will provide its cloud services on a pay-per-use basis to TP Vision, an Amsterdam-based joint venture between Philips and TV manufacturer TPV responsible for the development of Philips Smart TV.

“IBM’s cloud platform allows us to place the service and application intelligence into the cloud, and reduces the complexity of managing software in the TVs for our consumers,” said Albert Mombarg, head, Philips Smart TV at TP Vision. “This provides an economic, more flexible way to create new services for our viewers. By engaging with IBM on a cost-per-device basis, we obtain a new business model with predictable costs, and great flexibility to expand our services and grow our user base. We expect it to transform the way we offer new services and drive ongoing business innovation.”

The new IBM cloud platform opens up paths to new revenue. The data stored within the cloud can provide new insights about consumer needs and behavior for the media and entertainment industry, such as recommending TV shows based on past selections, says a release.

“As the Internet and smart devices continue to infiltrate home entertainment, today’s consumer electronics manufacturers are looking to deliver new interactive entertainment services,” said Bruce Anderson, general manager of IBM’s global electronics industry. “Televisions are about to become the next open application platform, similar to the application platforms on mobile devices.  Organizations are turning to the IBM cloud as the channel for their innovation.”

IBM Launches IBM SmartCloud Service Delivery

IBM also unveiled a cloud-based platform, SmartCloud Service Delivery for Electronics, managed by IBM global cloud data centres, for subscriber and device management, service life-cycle management and more. 

It bundles services, software, hardware, network and third-party services in a single integrated service, for an all-in price, with per active user pricing.