Netgem is making the software development kit (SDK) for its ‘Home Cloud’ available to application developers, Internet Service Providers and operator partners. It means that operators adopting Netgem technology will be able to pick up apps that have been used on other Netgem-supplied systems. Netgem itself will simply foster the development of the apps and will leave operators and developers to share any proceeds of their endeavours.
Netgem’s chief marketing officer Yann Courqueux told Broadband TV News that the company was mixing the concept of cloud computing with the world of consumer electronics. The move also reflects Netgem’s gradual move towards the provision of software regardless of whether it has manufactured the device itself. “We’re focusing on the middleware, where we can bring the most value, and being agnostic on the hardware side,” said Courqueux. “We need to be a lot more open, and that includes third party hadrware, so the product mix will change”.
Courqueux explained that consumer electronics manufactures benefitted from being able to scale globally, picking up on the latest standards. Through the creation of the Home Cloud, Netgem is able to create a network server that provide services to multiple devices. “You need a robust interface to share the resource. The role of the middleware is to manage those resources and share them equally, which calls for a multi-application framework, managing not only the TV screen but other devices.
Ten partners have already been signed up to the SDK program, including Multimediavision, Wiztivi and Accedo Broadband. “We’ve really benefitted from Netgem’s SDK, it provides a simple interface which helps us to consolidate games and app development. This has cut the time to market for new titles to reach Netgem operators customers in Slovenia and Australia,” said Accedo CEO Fredrik Andersson.
Netgem is applying a simple quality check to ensure that all applications that might run on its middleware adhere to a set of basic rules.
The release of the SDK follows a pattern previously established by Microsoft Mediaroom and more recently NDS.
Netgem will be showcasing a range of third party applications at the IP&TV World Forum in London next week (March 22 – 24).
