IFA 2012 – BERLIN. IBM has launched a cloud platform for the consumer electronics industry and Philips is the first taker.
IBM Cloud will power the Philips smart TV platform for internet services, which will deliver interactive services to millions of TV viewers in more than 30 countries in Europe, as well as Brazil and Argentina.
Today’s announcement at the IFA consumer electronics event in Berlin provides IBM 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.
TP Vision needed a cloud-computing environment resilient enough to support unexpected service demands at any given time when millions of TV units access a variety of services on its network.
“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 of 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.”
“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. Organisations are turning to the IBM cloud as the channel for their innovation.”
Examples of live solutions demonstrated at IFA include the Philips smart TV and service portal, and a smart home proof-of-concept, with home management and monitoring, as well as home energy management.