Whether you look at stats or your own limitless experience, you know very well that humanity spends too much time staring at tubes, screens, and other unnatural visualizers. Motorola isn't really here to fix that ailment, but at least it's converging the uses of some of those device classes with its introduction of a SocialTV Companion Service. Designed to turn your smartphone, tablet or laptop into a, you guessed it, TV companion device, this new software serves up social networking, complimentary content, real-time chat, TV show ratings, and interactive (as opposed to what, non-interactive?) games. Basically, since you spend your TV-watching time idly browsing away on your Xoom anyway, why not fuse the two things together and "generate some incremental revenue" for your service provider in the process? We presume the new SocialTV stuff will be rolled out in app form, Moto doesn't dish up those details or give us a launch date. If only we had an app to tell us when to expect new apps to arrive.
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Motorola Mobility Blends Community and Entertainment with Launch of SocialTV Companion Service for Tablets and Mobile Devices
SocialTV Companion Service extends Motorola Medios multi-screen video service management portfolio
April 07, 2011
HORSHAM, Pa.– April 7, 2011 – Motorola Mobility Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced the launch of its SocialTV Companion Service, targeted at service providers looking to deliver multi-screen experiences to their customers.
Motorola's new SocialTV Companion Service is part of the Motorola Medios multi-screen video service management portfolio. SocialTV helps service providers differentiate their offering and generate incremental revenue by leveraging social networking, loyalty programs, advertising and product merchandising via companion devices such as tablets, smartphones and laptops. When consumers are viewing video content on their primary TV screen, they will in tandem be able to share comments and interact real-time with friends and family via social networks using the Motorola SocialTV Companion Service. In addition, they will be able to access content, applications or merchandise related to the program they're watching. Motorola Mobility's 2010 Media Engagement Barometer showed that nearly 40% of Americans would prefer a TV viewing experience that offered access to value-add services such as these.
"Consumers are increasingly using companion devices to augment their entertainment experience," said John Burke, senior vice-president and general manager, Converged Experiences, Motorola Mobility. "Our SocialTV Companion Service is leveraging the convergence of companion devices, community and entertainment to create a more enjoyable and personalized experience for the consumer, while giving the service provider the ability to monetize that experience."
Motorola's SocialTV Companion Service includes interactive games and social experiences enabling viewers to express themselves and interact real-time with their virtual community of friends also watching the TV show. Real-time chat and TV show ratings, including live feeds to the companion device from leading social networking platforms, are also included. Adding further value and differentiation, the SocialTV Companion Service enables monetization opportunities thru show-related product merchandising, on-screen advertising placement and an integrated social loyalty rewards program with enterprise-class analytics and reporting capabilities. Optional features include show-specific games, quizzes and viewer voting polls.
Motorola's SocialTV Companion Service utilizes component modules from LoyalizeTM, including real-time social experiences and their real-time participation platform, analytics and rewards administration components.
