Samsung To Sell Yahoo! Internet Connected TV In More Countries

Yahoo! pushing internet connected tv

Samsung and Yahoo! have announced they will be selling more connected television sets throughout Europe, bringing the delights of Yahoo! Widgets to more consumers. They will sell into 26 more European Countries, bringing the total to 39 so far.

Yahoo, who were frontrunners in the internet tv market until they lost momentum and Samsung began their partnership at the CES Show in 2009. And Yahoo! are ready to hit the market again, pitching themselves between Apple TV and Google. The Internet-connected TV’s will have a new full-screen interface.

The Yahoo! widget system lets viewers access thousands of internet content sources from movies, TV shows, social networks, videos, and other kinds of Internet content using Yahoo! widgets running on an internet-connected TV. The widget system also lets viewers get interactive whilst watching TV.

Russ Schafer, senior director of Yahoo! Connect TV said:- “We don’t think people want the whole Web browser experience crammed in a TV. It is a best-of-the-Web not all-of-the-Web comparison; which is similar to how people consume television.”

On the subject of the limitations of Yahoo! compared to a Google TV, Schafer said that research shows that cable television customers tend to watch no more than 15 channels even though they have access to hundreds. Yahoo! expects similar customer behavior on Internet-connected televisions.

He said:- “Apple TV, at one end of the spectrum has a very simple interface, limited offerings but deep content that is very connected to other devices in the Apple ecosystem. Google, on the other side, wants to take the PC experience in the browser and put it in the TV. We fit right in the middle.”

He is of the opinion that viewers do not want thousands of channels, but rather the social networking features with a smaller selection of tv channels. He said:- “People can’t even go through 120 channels on cable,” Schafer said. “Do you think they will go through 120,000 websites? People want video and social networking.”

Currently the Yahoo! widget tv’s are installed in tv sets in over 130 countries manufactured by TV heavyweights such as Sony, Toshiba, Vestel and LG. This year, Yahoo! began making alliances with computer chip makers with a goal of getting Connected TV software built into DVD players and other entertainment content delivery devices.

Samsung are of course keeping their options open after announcing plans to manufacture Google TV sets as well.

Crazy Matt Cazzy into all things hi-tech, gizmos and gadgets. If its just out, i want it. Loves watching tv on every device ever invented that can handle it

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