At the 2018 RDK European Summit in Amsterdam, RDK Management unveiled an app program intended to make it easier to develop and launch apps consistently across RDK-based set-top boxes. The two-pronged program is intended to let service providers use a new RDK App Framework to build and manage their own solutions, or choose a RDK pre-integrated app store solution such as the Metrological App Store.
"Today marks a significant milestone in the history of the RDK," said Steve Heeb, president and general manager of RDK Management. "Since inception, the RDK community focused on bringing transparency and standardization to certain technical functions of video set-top boxes and broadband gateways, enabling service providers to focus on their consumer-facing applications and UIs. Thanks to the RDK community, this new open source RDK App Framework will make it even easier for service providers to develop, launch and manage apps in a consistent way across RDK set-top boxes. To be clear, RDK Management is not in the 'app business' itself, but rather 'app enablement' with our partners."
"Our community also includes many operators who simply want their own white-labeled app store that works across RDK set-top boxes," Heeb said. "To support them, we're pleased to name Metrological as the first RDK pre-integrated app store. It's a clear testament to Metrological's capabilities and ongoing contributions to the RDK community."
The RDK App Framework is designed to allow service providers to integrate apps into the TV viewing experience, provide onboarding and life cycle management tools, and enable app portability across various set-top box models. Specifically, application developers and service providers can now create HTML5 and native applications on set-top boxes using the new RDK App Framework and RDK FireboltApp SDK.
Driven by the RDK open source community, with key contributions from Metrological, it provides a development, build and test environment for Web and native apps across RDK-based set-top boxes. Service providers now have a common technical framework to support native premium video apps, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video, along with a variety of niche or third-party HTML5 apps.
For service providers seeking a more turnkey solution, Metrological's App Store was named as the first RDK pre-integrated app store. Metrological's App Store has been tested, integrated and deployed on RDK-based set-top boxes to meet the performance standards of TV service providers. It includes access to a library of 300+ apps. In addition, the App Store can be used to launch premium video apps such as Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime Video; local and regionalized apps; and back-office tools needed to launch and manage the lifecycle of an app store. Content providers are able to reach more than 40 million households across operator networks by uploading a single app onto the Metrological App Library.
RDK Management has also partnered with Metrological and ARRIS (NASDAQ:ARRS) to provide a new support tool and IP set-top reference integration to allow operators to expedite application development, testing and service deployment. Application developers and service providers can now utilize an IP set-top box powered by RDK software and pre-loaded with the Metrological App store.