Samsung Electronics today announced the global 1 millionth TV application download from Samsung Apps, the world’s first HDTV-based application store. The store allows users to download and purchase applications such as ESPN, Hulu Plus and Texas Holdem.
Samsung Electronics today announced the 1 millionth TV application downloaded globally from Samsung Apps, the world’s first HDTV-based application store, where users can purchase and download applications from an expanding range of content and service providers, directly from their TV. The company’s 200th TV application is now live via the platform. Samsung has reached these milestones in less than a year after the initial launch of Samsung Apps.
Some of the most frequently downloaded applications are Hulu Plus, ESPN Next Level and Texas Holdem, showcasing global demand for Samsung Smart TV entertainment experiences across key consumer hobby areas ‚ sports, movies and gaming. Samsung is committed to exceeding consumer demand for a better TV viewing experience by providing high-quality Smart TVs equipped with a broad range of interactive content. Samsung customers benefit from having access to content that is customized to their individual likes and interests. In the first half of 2010, Samsung took over 66 percent of the US connected TV market, according to research firm The NPD Group. Samsung presents Samsung Apps on more than 50 percent of its 2010 TV line-up and is currently the market leader in global LED TV, LCD TV, and plasma TV sales. In the U.S. alone, Samsung expects the market for Smart TVs to reach 6.5 million units by the end of this year, and anticipates demand will grow to 20 million units by 2012. ‚The evolution of television in recent years has been astounding as consumers seek technology that enhances their viewing experience, and their lives,‚ said Mr. Boo-keun Yoon, President of Samsung’s Visual Display Business. ‚Integrating the traditional TV experience with applications and features like 3D bridges the gap between simply consuming programming and interacting with it. We are seeing that consumers are embracing these new experiences with their TVs.‚ To spur Smart TV innovation, Samsung is working closely with the developer community to bring new application to the Samsung Apps library. For example, earlier this year, Samsung held several ‚Free the TV Developer Days‚ around the world, which brought together the developer community with notable leaders across the connected TV ecosystem to discuss and plan for the exciting next era of Smart TV. These ‚Developer Days‚ included well-attended events and contests such as the ‚Free the TV Challenge‚ (http://www.freethetvchallenge.com/), which are a part of a global effort led by Samsung to open up the TV to developers wanting to distribute their content on the biggest screen in the home and on an easy-to-use platform.