Mumbai based set-top box manufacturer MyBox has announced that it will be soon coming out with two new products with Google and Amazon Alexa. Notably, the company has positioned itself as a tech-driven entity and is working towards providing futuristic products and solutions. MyBox MD, Amit Kharbanda in talk with Television Post revealed that the company would be rolling out its Google certified OTT (Over the top) set-top box alongside rolling out a software update for the existing STBs. It is also noteworthy that the company is also one of the first system integrators to build an AVS solution (Alexa Voice Service) for the video platform.
MyBox STB Enabled With Google and Alexa Services
The company executive announced that it would also be launching a hybrid STB in partnership with the DTH provider “Over the last few years, we started working with Amazon and Google. We became their licencees. We started making Google certified STBs. We are also launching an OTT box with Google as well as a hybrid box with one of the DTH operators.” The company further added that it took a different approach for AVS and instead of launching a new STB, it rolled out a software update for the existing STBs.
Kharbanda also added to his words saying, “On the Amazon side, we approached it differently which turned out be quite a boon. We observed that the cable operators are not able to make money on linear TV. They have the advantage of reaching the last mile customers. Everyone is running after the last mile.”
Leveraging Last Mile Connectivity to Provide Voice Enabled Services
MyBox has introduced an Alexa Kit which when paired with the STB will make the STB Alexa enabled. Once that happens, the users of the STB will be able to control their smart home devices, shop for household goods and do all of that hands-free. As per the company executive, the MyBox plans to sell 1million+ devices this year in India as well as international markets. Kharbanda said about this new product and their unique implementation, “We have around 350,000 to 400,000 STBs on the ground. So we are planning to upgrade the software of those boxes in the next two months. Thereafter, whatever volumes of boxes we supply will be Alexa enabled. We are also talking to some operators who have same the footprint to integrate the solution.”
Kharbanda also said that their product would also be a reason for the providers to push for HD STBs as these HD Set-top boxes will allow for easy integration with Alexa services. He also emphasised about the issue of STBs being imported from ASEAN instead of being manufactured in India.
