Cutting-Edge Mobile TV – You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

Some 20 years ago, WebTV arrived in some people's living rooms. It was co-founded by Steve Perlman, who began integrating TVs and computers in his high-school days after needing a graphics display for his home television. Although this entrepreneurial effort led him to build software for Apple and other companies, his WebTV was never the hit it was expected to be [1,2].

The WebTV era of entertainment and browsing involved the convergence of TV and the internet “to give consumers the best of both. They could channel surf and web surf, all while sitting in the comfort of their living room” [3]. WebTV comprised an adapter which enabled a TV set to connect to the internet, primarily for the purpose of checking emails and browsing the web. The apparatus incorporated a web browser, a keyboard (wireless or corded), and a connection via power line communication, cable internet access, ADSL or a modem.

Although compared to computer-based web browser, WebTV did not offer as much practicality, it was nonetheless a low-cost option to a conventional computer's internet connection. Yet regardless of everyone's hopes for a cool innovative entertainment experience that would enable them to have fun surfing and interacting, the software ran at a snail's pace, the hardware was awkward, and the TV was low-definition.1,3,4WebTV was initially purchased by Microsoft, and in 2001 it was absorbed it into MSN TV, until it closed down in 2013 [1].

But 20 years is a mighty long time in the tech space. As we approach 2020, we are no longer confined to the living room or super-glued to the sofa. We can enjoy the best of free entertainment and interaction on our smart phones and tablets with leading platforms such as OONA, the YouTube of TV. These platforms which empower us to have fun anytime, anywhere, are providing high tech 21^st century hard and software, with the latter now being as crucial as the former. Regulated TV apps like OONA are making head waves by delivering experiences and cool interactive features that we would have never thought possible until recently.

The WebTV moment has been and gone, yet inspiration gleaned from pioneers such as Steve Perlman, “has ushered in a new wave of TV innovation. It means we can embrace new formats like 4K and HDR video because platforms like [OONA and] YouTube have so much of that content to enjoy” [3]. It also empowers us with more social experiences, whether sharing and connecting with friends, and in the case of OONA's POTT (platform over the top), telling your AI bot what sort of content you personally enjoy and want more of.

Today, with exciting data-free and subscription-free mobile TV services like OONA's POTT, “we can undergo the biggest change of all: enjoying live TV without the commitments that come with cable. Cable TV revolutionized the television experience, breaking us out of a three-channel world and ushering us into a golden” TV era [3]. We became accustomed to having a terrific choice from cable – but paying for a service is no longer de rigueur when it can be rivalled or bettered by going OTT.

Some leaders in the over the top TV industry such as renowned digital strategist, and founder and CEO of OONA, Christophe Hochart, have been able to ensure that just as with YouTube, at last, viewers can enjoy “everything they love about TV, without the fees and annual contracts that come with cable” [3]. Writing about the emergence of such cool services, chief product officer at YouTube, Neal Mohan, stated: “when we at YouTube think about the future of TV, this is what we see—a future marked by greater choice, better quality content, smarter recommendations, more social experiences and fewer commitments. It is no wonder cord-cutting grew by 11 percent over the last year and is expected to jump even higher next year” [3].

Embracing the Golden Age of Online Video

Saturn is the limit for online video; it is making a massive impact on our lifestyles, and has generated a golden age of content that we could have barely imagined back in the 90s. Now, we are able to have fun by seamlessly switching from the latest films and series to live sport events, breaking and local news, and MTV. “All that choice can be daunting, but recommendation algorithms are getting better and better at surfacing content you’ll want to watch—over 70 percent of time people spend watching YouTube is driven by our recommendations [3]”

Taking it a Step Further

OONA, which has partnered up with one of the world's largest telcom companies, Telcom Indonesia, is set to provide over 185 million plus Indonesians data/subscription-free TV on the go, with a dongle to connect to a home TV as well. It is also on route to provide its unique service to other parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, the US and Europe. Moreover, OONA's up and coming platform has gone one step further than YouTube. This is because along with its algorithm architecture, it has an interactive artificial intelligence genie.

OONA's World First AI Genie in the App

OONA's POTT has a unique method of finding out what sort of personalised entertainment content and ads every user wants to watch. This is conducted on a one-to-one basis via a friendly AI bot, named Siskabot. This genie in the OONA app, who appears in person when the app is downloaded, has regular conversations with users to understand their constantly changing wants and needs. When this data is added to the users' behavior patterns and program choice preferences, it provides excellent data collection and architecture. This in turn, optimizes ad targeting, thereby: providing the kind of helpful ads that can save users time and money; and offering the best and most exciting entertainment that the platform's consumers want.

OONA's Virtual Currency Rewards: tcoins

In order to encourage viewers to keep in regular touch with Siskabot, OONA and Telkom Indonesia offer a highly beneficial rewarding tcoin program. The more they engage in the app by chatting with Siskabot, watching content and ads, and sharing on social media with friends and family, the more tcoins they can accumulate. These can be redeemed for a broad selection of branded goods, meals, fun days out, discounts and telcom minutes and products. The tcoins, which are shown in a personalised virtual OONA wallet, achieve different statuses such as Rookie or Master, depending on the number of points the user has acquired.

The Game Changer

OONA's POTT is a game changer, and is well on course to fulfill its company mission statement: “To make life fun for billions of people by providing Free Mobile TV.” This offers a giant step for consumers who want commitment-free exciting entertainment any time, any where, and cool interactive fun, without having to waste away their time scrolling through pirate content or switching platforms.

In summary, the great expectations brought about by the emergence of innovations such as WebTV, laid the foundation for great things to come. Our high tech world and abundance of forward-looking entrepreneurs such as OONA's founder, Christophe Hochart, who literally thought outside the box, are enabling us to have more fun and cancel our cable subscriptions for good – Merci beaucoup to all of them!!

References

1. Metz, Cade (2007). "25 Years of PC Magazine: Year Fifteen 1996."

2. MSN TV: Closure FAQ Archived 2013-07-09 at the Wayback Machine.

3. Mohan, Neal (2018). “CES a Reminder of How Far TV Tech Has Come.” Retrieved from: http://variety.com/2018/digital/opinion/ces-a-reminder-of-how-far-tv-tech-has-come-guest-column-1202644545/ Accessed 24 Feb. 2018.

4. Fortgang, Ron S.; Sebenius, James K. (1999-04-19), "Steve Perlman and WebTV (A & B)." Harvard Business Review.