Telefónica has announced a joint initiative for the provision of TV OTT on devices with Windows Phone OS.
Telefónica’s Movistar TV Go service for Windows Phone 8.1 will enable Telefónica users to watch TV content, both linear and on-demand, just by speaking into the phone. The Cortana technology is integrated for the first time in Telefónica’s worldwide commercial video service, allowing Windows Phone users to search for content through the natural speech interface.
Telefónica aims to launch the final commercial version of the Movistar TV Go app on Windows Phone 8.1 shortly after the Mobile World Congress, which closes tomorrow. This will mark the first time that Cortana for Spanish language is integrated in a worldwide commercial service.
“The availability of our television services on mobile devices increases the attractiveness and potential for enjoyment of the content we offer to our users, and places Telefónica at the forefront of video products with an offer of TV Everywhere which is increasingly diverse,” said Michael Duncan, CEO of global video unit of Telefónica.
Movistar TV Go service for Windows Phone will be available first in Spain and then in other Latin American countries where Telefónica is offering pay-TV services.
Steven Guggenheimer, corporate VP and chief evangelist, Microsoft developer experience and evangelism at Microsoft, added: “We are very pleased to have achieved this milestone with Telefónica. Rather than just performing voice-activated commands, Cortana continually learns about each user and becomes increasingly personalised, with the ultimate goal of proactively performing the right tasks at the right time. Telefónica’s support is helping us to speed up this process.”
Pictured (left to right): Stephen Petheram, director operator relations, EMEA for Microsoft; Steven Guggenheimer, corporate VP microsoft developer experience; Michael Duncan, director global video unit, Telefónica; Reyes Justribo, global account director for Microsoft in Telefónica.
