Airtel launches next-gen interactivity on its DTH service

Bharti Airtel, India's leading integrated telecom services provider, today announced it has entered into an innovation and technology partnership with Infosys Technologies Limited (Infosys), to deliver superior customer experience to the customers of Airtel digital TV, its Direct To Home (DTH) TV service. As part of its Digital Convergence Platform, Infosys will provide a suite of products including devices, application servers and interactive applications that will focus on providing an enhanced digital lifestyle to Airtel digital TV customers.

Airtel’s cutting edge digital TV technology in combination with Infosys’ Digital Convergence Platform will bring digital lifestyle applications offering interactivity and personalization into the living room. This will include interactive and non-intrusive applications like widgets that can be invoked by the user to view relevant and customized information. For the first time in the country, TV-viewers will now be able to access local city information through interactive applications such as iCity, enjoy hassle-free Internet experience on their TV with iNet and get live and personalized Stock Quotes, Breaking News, Horoscopes, Cricket Scores and Shopping deals in the city without interrupting their TV-viewing experience. In a first of its kind service, Airtel digital TV customers can also look forward to enjoying shopping at the touch of their remote button through an interactive TV-based commerce application called tPortal. In addition, a host of other innovative applications are planned for release over a period of time.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Atul Bindal, President - Telemedia Services, Bharti Airtel said, “Airtel is delighted to partner with Infosys to offer cutting-edge interactive applications on Airtel digital TV - its DTH TV service. This is in line with Airtel’s partnership approach to innovation and its commitment to deliver the best in world technology to its customers. With this partnership, Airtel aims to revolutionize the TV-viewing experience and usher in the future of television in the country.”

Company officials explained that with the help of apps like iCity, customers can enjoy hassle-free Internet-like experience on their televisions with iNet, and get live and personalized stock quotes, breaking news, horoscopes, cricket scores and shopping deals in the city without interrupting their TV-viewing experience. Airtel digital TV customers will also have select websites packaged suitably for TV-viewing, in an application called tPortal. In addition, a host of other innovative applications are slated for release over a period of time.

Infosys has asserted that this participation with Airtel has helped them realize their focus on providing distinct product experience for their customers with their convergence platform. They have revealed to the Indian TV viewers about the possibilities of bringing internet like experience even with their regular TVs.