Orange is preparing to launch a competitor to Google’s Chromecast in France this April.
Les Echos reports that the telco is already testing such a product in Romania, although it would work differently to Chromecast.
Specifically, it would be a stick that would offer Orange Cinéma Séries (OCS), Orange’s movie channels, along with the company’s VOD service.
Furthermore, it would include 50 free TV channels, among them DTT services, Dailymotion and Google’s YouTube. Canal+ and BeIn Sports pay-TV channels would also be offered, though not initially.
Although this presupposes agreements with rights holders, it is something that will take time.
Orange is expected to initially make its stick available to its ‘Sosh’ mobile customers and those receiving its ‘Open’ offer, consisting of TV, internet and fixed and mobile telephony.
It will aim to secure tens of thousands of thousands of users in the first year it is made available.
As previously reported in Broadband TV News, Google has already sold 10 million Chromecasts worldwide.
