The era of needing a game console or other set top box to get interactive content on a TV may be coming to an end, as a new report predicts 500 million internet connected TVs will have been shipped by 2015.
The era of needing a game console or other set top box to get interactive content on a TV may be coming to an end, as a new report predicts 500 million TVs with built-in internet connectivity will have been shipped by 2015. That means, by 2015, 35 percent of all TVs 46" and up used in North America will have internet connectivity built in, according to DisplaySearch's Quarterly TV Design and Features report. These connected TVs will make up 25 percent of all worldwide TV shipments in 2011, a proportion that will rise to 47 percent by 2015. While such TVs are often used to stream internet video content and power basic social networking apps, they can also be used to play simple, internet-connected games. In January, Oberon Media obtained the license to publish Tetris on all such "Smart TV" platforms. Also in January, TV maker Vizio announced plans to integrate OnLive's remote game streaming technology into its Via line of TVs this year, eliminating the need for a $99 MicroConsole. Internet-enabled TVs that support the WiFi Direct standard will also be able to stream data to tablets and other WiFi-powered home devices, enabling features similar to those planned for the upcoming Wii U.
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