Access and Foxxum are collaborating on the development of user interfaces for multi-platform services based on Linux for the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). The joint solution will enable operators in emerging markets to offer competitive smart TV user experiences, the company said. It has already been adopted by Latin American operator MP3 for TV platforms designed by Diggio, Innova, Global, Hyundai, Nakamichi, Icesa and Ecoline.
Foxxum CEO Ronny Lutzi remarked:
“Consumers in emerging markets have always desired the same quality of experience as their counterparts in more mature regions. Budget restrictions have previously limited their ability to invest, resulting in clunky interfaces and sub-par experiences. By combining our expertise designing next-generation multi-platform UIs with Access’ expertise delivering connected entertainment on a multitude of platforms, we are offering CE manufacturers and brands the chance to deliver exciting user interfaces and user experiences that their customers are looking for”.
The solution is based on Access’ Chromium-based NetFront Browser BE for Android, pre-validated with the Foxxum TV App Store and launcher and pre-integrated into the TV hardware itself, to maximise the capabilities of each device and deliver a unified experience for all services. The flexibility of the solution enables Foxxum to customise the launcher for each operator, creating a fully branded environment that caters to different audiences.
The launcher includes local content, alongside the Foxxum App Store, which gives access to over a billion video titles across multiple content providers. It is already available in 36 languages for a wide range of Smart TVs from over 50 different manufacturers. The NetFront Browser family and Access Twine solutions support HTML5, HbbTV 1.5, HbbTV 2.0.1, BML, Hybridcast, UK Freeview Play, YouTube on TV and uPnP, and operating systems such as Linux, iOS and Android. With additional developments in the automotive and IoT spaces, Access continues to develop solutions for the connected entertainment industry.
